Methodology and Quality Update

Latest Update on Methodology and Quality

2026/07/02

Statistical Presentation

Data description

The international trade in goods report presents data on export and import statistics in Saudi Arabia.
The International Trade in Goods Statistics is based on administrative records data that is collected, processed, and classified according to the following main characteristics:

• Goods code and goods description.
• Value of goods, quantity of goods, and weight of goods.
• Country of origin for imports, and country of destination for exports.
  Data is also used to display:
• Exports of Saudi Arabia.
• Imports of Saudi Arabia.
• Trade exchange between Saudi Arabia and its partners.
• Trade size and trade balance.
• Re-export.
• Top origin and destination countries.
• Top exported and imported goods.
• Top customs ports.

Classifications

Harmonized System (HS 2022)
The statistics of merchandise exports and imports of Saudi Arabia are compiled and classified in accordance with international standards. For classification purposes, these statistics rely on the Harmonized System (HS 2022) issued by the World Customs Organization (WCO), which is a nomenclature for the description and classification of goods that includes subheadings and their numerical codes, as well as sections and chapters. This is in accordance with the International Convention on the Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System, signed in Brussels.
Other classifications: 
Standard International Trade Classification (SITC):
It is a classification of goods used to classify exports and imports in a country in order to compare different countries and years. It is currently in the fourth revision, issued in 2006, and is issued by the United Nations.
Broad Economic Categories Classification (BEC):
It is a three-house classification that groups transported goods by their main end use. It is often used in the general economic analysis of international merchandise trade data, as well as the Standard International Trade Classification. The original version was published in 1971, revised in 1976 and 1986, and most recently in 1988. 
Central Product Classification (CPC 2.1) 
It is a comprehensive international classification of products that covers both goods and services, issued by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs. The classification, in its version (CPC 2.1), aims to provide a general framework for international comparisons across various types of statistics related to goods, services, and non-financial assets, and serves as a standard for harmonizing other economic statistics. It is distinguished by its ability to provide detailed product classifications not available in other classifications, making it a vital tool for enhancing consistency between international trade statistics and national accounts, and ensuring comprehensive statistical coverage of all products resulting from economic activities.
Classification of countries into groups by continents and geographical regions, as follows: 

• Africa:
  -    North Africa. 
  -    Sub-Saharan Africa.
  -    East Africa.
  -    Central Africa.
  -    Southern Africa.
  -    West Africa.
• America:
  -    North America.
  -    Latin America and the Caribbean.
  -    The Caribbean
  -    Central America.
  -    South America.
• Asia:
  -    Central Asia.
  -    East Asia.
  -    Southeast Asia.
  -    South Asia.
  -    West Asia.
• Europe:
  -    Eastern Europe.
  -    Northern Europe.
  -    Southern Europe.
  -    Western Europe.
• Oceania.
• Other regions.
  Classification of countries into general groups:
  -    Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).
  -    League of Arab States.
  -    Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).
  -    Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) 
  -    Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries (OAPEC).
  -    Group of Twenty (G20).
  -    European Union (EU).

Statistical concepts and definitions

Terminologies and concepts of international trade in goods statistics:

• Exports (Total):
  Exports consist of exports of domestic goods (national exports) and exports of foreign goods (re-exports), and the valuation is based on the basis of delivery on board (FOB).
• National exports:
  According to the international trade in goods system, it refers to all goods intended for export outside the Kingdom, which have been entirely produced or manufactured locally, or have undergone an industrial process that changed their form and value.
• Re-export:
  Goods that were previously imported and subjected to all customs procedures and re-exported without any significant modification.
• Oil exports:
  Exports of goods classified under Chapter 27 (mineral fuels, mineral oils and products of their distillation, bituminous substances, mineral waxes) of the Harmonized System (HS).
• Non-oil exports:
  Total exports excluding exports of goods classified under Chapter 27 (mineral fuels, mineral oils and products of their distillation, bituminous substances, mineral waxes) of the Harmonized System (HS).
• Imports of goods:
  All goods entering the country to meet local needs after undergoing customs procedures, with valuation based on cost, insurance, and freight (CIF).
• Trade volume:
  The sum of the value of exports and imports over a given period.
• Trade balance:
  The difference between the value of exports and imports over a given period.
• Countries:
  It is the origin of goods for import statistics and the final destination for export statistics.
• Country groups:
  Countries are classified geographically according to continents or according to international organizations, federations, and associations.
• Partner country:
  It is the country that engages in economic transactions with the Kingdom, from which exports are made and imports are received. Based on these transactions, the value of exports and imports, the volume of trade between the two countries, the trade balance, and the most important exported and imported goods are estimated.
• Port of Entry:
  It refers to the port through which goods and commodities pass for customs clearance.
• Means of transportation:
  Used to determine the mode of transport, whether by air, land, or sea.
• Country of origin of goods:
  It refers to the country of origin for agricultural and animal products, the country where the final stage of production occurred for manufactured goods, and for raw materials, the country that extracted these materials from its mines.
• Net weight:
  Means the full weight of the goods excluding the weight of the packaging materials.
• Gross weight:
  It means the full weight of the goods including the weight of the packaging materials.
• Monthly change:
  Change from the previous month.
• Quarterly change:
  Change from the previous quarter.
• Annual change:
  Change from the previous year.

Data sources

The main source of data for the International Trade in Goods Statistics is administrative records data, used to obtain the essential data required for merchandise exports and imports statistics from government entities.
The data is collected from the following government entities: 

• Ministry of Energy:
  It is a major source of oil exports.
• General Authority for Zakat, Tax and Customs:
  It is a major source of exports and imports of non-oil goods.

Designing the data collection tool

Data is collected using standardized data request forms sent to data-owning entities to obtain periodic, harmonized, and well-documented data derived from administrative records related to International Trade in Goods indicators.

Questionnaire test (cognitive test)

Not applicable, as the International Trade in Goods Statistics is based on administrative records data obtained from relevant entities.

Statistical population

The statistical population of the International Trade in Goods Statistics in Saudi Arabia consists of all elements or units targeted for data collection.
It covers all physical goods that enter the geographical territory of Saudi Arabia (imports) or leave it (exports). The population includes all goods subject to customs procedures that affect the stock of material resources of the country. These units are classified based on their common characteristics, such as the goods code (HS Code), country of origin or destination, and the value, quantity, or weight.
It covers all trade transactions conducted through customs ports (sea, air, and land) during the reference period (month). It excludes goods that do not result in a change in the stock of material resources of Saudi Arabia in accordance with international standards, such as transit goods, temporary goods, goods for repair, monetary gold, circulating banknotes, and goods leased for less than one year, as specified in the International Merchandise Trade Statistics Manual (IMTS 2010).
3.8.    Sample Design
Not applicable, as the product is registry-based and relies on registry data available from the relevant authorities.

Statistical unit

The statistical unit in the International Trade in Goods Statistics is defined as follows:

• Basic statistical unit:
  The statistical unit is the good crossing the customs border, for which its technical and economic characteristics are recorded.
• Observation (reporting) unit:
  As the report is based on administrative records, the trade transaction recorded in the customs declaration is the primary observation unit from which statistical data for each export or import transaction is derived.
• Measured characteristics of the unit:

Data for each statistical unit is compiled based on the following variables:
-    Classification: Goods code according to the Harmonized System (HS Code).
-    Value: Monetary value in Saudi Riyals (FOB) for exports and (CIF) for imports.
-    Quantity: Net weight in kilograms, or number of units for specific goods (such as cars and watches).
-    Trading partner: Country of origin for imports and country of destination for exports.

Data collection

Data collection from administrative records:
Data for the International Trade in Goods Statistics is obtained from the Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority, which provides data on the values and weights of non-oil exports and imports, and from the Ministry of Energy, which provides oil export data. 
The data is stored in GASTAT’s databases after undergoing auditing and review processes in accordance with established statistical methods and recognized quality standards. The data source can be referred to in case of any errors or observations regarding the data.

Data collection frequency 

The data collection process for the International Trade in Goods Statistics is conducted on a monthly basis.

Reference area

The International Trade in Goods Statistics covers the exports and imports of Saudi Arabia.

Reference period (time reference)

The data for the International Trade in Goods Statistics for 2026 is assigned to the current month.

Base period

Not applicable, as the International Trade in Goods Statistics provides data and indicators on a periodic basis to measure changes over time and is not compared to a fixed base period. 

Measurement unit

Any quantity of a commodity is expressed in net weight. In addition, for certain commodities, quantities are expressed in several units, as required by their nature. (such as sheep, cars, and watches). In addition to their weight in tons, the value is expressed in Saudi riyals.

Time coverage

The data is available from 2000 to the current month of 2026.

Publication frequency

The results of the International Trade in Goods Statistics are published on a monthly basis in accordance with the approved statistical plan.

Statistical processing

Error detection

Careful procedures are implemented to detect errors in administrative record data obtained from the relevant government entities, with supportive methods applied to measure quality indicators, following systematic procedures that ensure data accuracy and consistency.
These included the following:

• Identifying illogical or out-of-range values, such as quantities and weights of goods, and other indicators.
• Classifying the data and verifying its accuracy, with reference to the primary data source whenever any errors or data quality issues are identified.
• Reviewing internal consistency between variables to ensure the logical relationships among values and indicators.
• Comparing current data with previous data to ensure the integrity of time series before processing the data and producing the final results.
• Reviewing data published by other official sources as supporting data for comparison and verification of the accuracy of values and statistical trends.

Data integration and matching from multiple sources 

The International Trade in Goods Statistics rely on integrating data received from multiple sources in the calculation of their indicators to achieve data integration and enhance accuracy and comprehensiveness. This is achieved by integrating administrative records data received from the Ministry of Energy with data received from the Zakat, Tax, and Customs Authority, and linking them automatically to ensure the alignment of customs codes with the Harmonized System (HS) classification. This enables the extraction of comprehensive statistical indicators that reflect patterns of international trade in goods, their geographical distribution, and their classification by economic groupings.

Imputation and calibration

Handling missing values (Imputation):
Imputation or statistical calibration methods are not used in the International Trade in Goods Statistics, as they rely on complete administrative records data. In case of any data gaps or inconsistencies, the data-providing entity is contacted directly to complete the data and ensure its consistency before inclusion in the publication.
Calibration procedures:
The totals of values and quantities derived from administrative sources (such as the Zakat, Tax, and Customs Authority and the Ministry of Energy) are verified against historical totals to ensure temporal and internal consistency of the data.

Seasonal adjustments

Not applicable, as the final results for each year are published based on administrative data from official sources.

Adjustment of preliminary results 

The results of the International Trade in Goods Statistics (monthly) are released and published as preliminary data immediately after the completion of processing and initial reconciliation of the completed administrative records.
These preliminary results are subject to continuous periodic revisions based on updates received from the main administrative sources (the Zakat, Tax, and Customs Authority and the Ministry of Energy). The preliminary results are revised to bring them closer to the final accurate values.
The results are published in their final form after the end of the calendar year, following the completion of final validations and ensuring the completeness and consistency of all annual trade transactions.

Quality dimensions

Suitability

A criterion that measures the extent to which the product meets users’ needs.

User needs 

Internal users of International Trade in Goods Statistics at GASTAT:

• National accounts.
• Prices.

Some external users and beneficiaries greatly benefit from the International Trade in Goods:

• Government entities.
• Regional and international organizations.
• Research institutions.
• Media.
• Individuals.

Key variables most utilized by external users:
 

 Completeness 

International Trade in Goods data is based on two main sources to obtain the essential data required for merchandise exports and imports statistics from government entities.
As follows: 

• Data obtained from the Ministry of Energy:
  A main source of oil exports.
• Data obtained from the Zakat, Tax, and Customs Authority:
  It is a major source of exports and imports of non-oil goods.

Accordingly, the data is complete.

Accuracy and reliability 

A measure of the extent to which estimates or calculations are close to the actual values that reflect reality.

Overall accuracy 

• Data quality is enhanced through the selection of researchers based on a set of practical and objective criteria related to the nature of the work, as well as their qualification and training.
• Alert, prevention, and correction rules are applied during the data collection process in order to improve data quality.
• The data is examined against previous years to identify any significant changes.
• The internal consistency of the data is checked before it is finalized.
• The links between variables are checked and coherence between different data series is confirmed.

Timeliness and punctuality 

Timeliness A standard that indicates the length of time between the availability of information and the occurrence of the event.
Punctuality It reflects the time lag between the data publication date and the target date when publication actually occurs.

Timeliness 

GASTAT uses the Special Data Dissemination Standard (SDDS) issued by the International Monetary Fund. According to this standard, all statistical agencies are required to publish data on a monthly basis, with a time lag not exceeding six weeks (42 days) after the end of the reference period. If the data is derived from different sources, it may be published at a different frequency.

Punctuality 

The results are published in accordance with the release dates specified in the Statistical Calendar for the International Trade in Goods Statistics on GASTAT’s website. The data is available at the expected time, as scheduled in the Statistical Calendar.

Coherence and comparability

A standard that refers to the necessity of internal and temporal consistency of statistics, their logical coherence, and their comparability and integration across different regions and sources.

Comparability - geographical

Statistical data related to the International Trade in Goods Statistics is fully comparable geographically within Saudi Arabia, as well as at the regional and international levels.

Comparability - over time 

The indicators are comparable over time, and the reference year for the data is updated monthly according to what is received from the main data sources to ensure comparability with previous years.

Coherence- Cross domain

The data are consistent, as their coherence is verified against all other statistics containing similar indicators. These procedures ensure integration and coherence across statistics, thereby enhancing data reliability and the quality of analyses based on them, and ensuring that the results are free from any unjustified inconsistencies.

Coherence- Sub-annual and annual statistics 

Full methodological consistency is maintained between the monthly and quarterly reports and the final annual results of the International Trade in Goods Statistics. This is achieved through continuous temporal alignment; whereby sub-annual data is compiled and processed and periodically reconciled with annual totals to ensure consistency in trends and values. As the monthly data is published as “preliminary,” it is methodologically reviewed and updated upon the release of the final revisions of the administrative records received from the source.
These procedures aim to analyze any discrepancies arising from the timing of administrative recording and to address them statistically, thereby ensuring a consistent and reliable time series in which the sum of short-term periods aligns with the final annual output.

Coherence- National Accounts

 International Trade in Goods Statistics is aligned with the frameworks of the national accounts and the balance of payments. This consistency is achieved through the harmonization of the concepts, definitions, and classifications used in recording exports and imports, ensuring that trade data flows as accurate and reliable inputs within macroeconomic variables. 

Coherence- Internal 

Full internal consistency is maintained across all outputs presented in the International Trade in Goods Statistics. This is achieved by ensuring arithmetic and logical consistency across all components of the data, whereby the totals of values and quantities at the level of chapters and commodity items fully correspond to the overall published totals in the same publication. The validation process also includes ensuring consistency across different measures, such as aligning geographical distributions and economic group classifications with total trade volume and the trade balance. These procedures aim to eliminate any illogical discrepancies or inconsistencies, thereby ensuring coherent and reliable data that accurately reflects the reality of exports and imports movements.

Accessibility and clarity

It refers to users’ access to data, the availability of detailed and aggregate data, as well as the availability of the Methodology and Quality Report.

Press releases

The announcements for each publication are available on the statistical calendar as mentioned in 10.1. The press releases can be viewed on the website of GASTAT on the link: 
Press release 

Publications

GASTAT regularly publishes International Trade in Goods Statistics publications and reports in accordance with a pre-established dissemination plan, and they are published on GASTAT’s website. GASTAT is keen to publish its publications in a way that serves all users of different types, including publications in different formats that contain (publication tables, data graphs, indicators, methodology and quality report, and used questionnaires) in both English and Arabic.
The results of the International Trade in Goods Statistics are available on:
International Trade in Goods Statistics

Online database

The data is published on the statistical database:
GASTAT (stats.gov.sa)

Microdata accessibility

Not available.

References and standards

International Trade in Goods Statistics standards
The General Authority for Statistics carries out all its statistical activities in accordance with a unified working methodology that is consistent with the nature of each statistical product. Accordingly, it relies on the Statistical Business Process Manual, which is aligned with the procedures adopted by international organizations, in coordination with the relevant competent authorities.

• For more details, you can refer to the attachment.
  Generic Statistical Business Process Model (GSBPM)
  Concepts, definitions, issues, and classifications based on the international recommendations for International Trade in Goods Statistics adopted by the United Nations Statistics Division.
• International Merchandise Trade Statistics Manual:
  International Merchandise Trade Statistics: Concepts and Definitions (IMTS 2010)

Quality assurance

GASTAT ensures that the following principles are taken into account: Impartiality; ensuring that the statistical product is user-oriented; quality of processes and outputs; effectiveness of statistical operations; and reduction of the burden on respondents. 
Data is validated through procedures and quality controls that are applied during the process at various stages, such as data entry, data collection, and other final controls.

Quality assessment

GASTAT carries out all statistical activities in accordance with the National Model (Generic Statistical Business Process Model – GSBPM). During the comprehensive evaluation stage, which is the final stage of GSBPM, information collected across all stages and sub-processes is used to prepare an evaluation report that summarizes all challenges related to the quality of each statistical process and serves as an input for improvement and development processes.

Confidentiality

Confidentiality - Policy

According to Royal Decree No. 23 dated 07/12/1379, data must always be kept confidential and must be used by GASTAT for statistical purposes only.
Therefore, the data is protected in the data servers of GASTAT.

Confidentiality - Data Treatment

Data were displayed in appropriate tables to facilitate their summarization, comprehension, and results extraction. Also, to compare data with other data and extract statistical meanings for the study community. It is also easier to check tables without the need to see any sensitive or confidential data, which violates the confidentiality of statistical data.

Publishing policy

Statistical calendar

International Trade in Goods Statistics has been included in the Statistical Calendar.
Statistical Calendar

User access

One of GASTAT’s objectives is to better meet its clients’ needs; therefore, it provides them with the results of the International Trade in Goods Statistics Publication immediately upon release.
Customer questions and inquiries regarding the publication and its results are also received through various communication channels, such as:

• GASTAT official website:  www.stats.gov.sa
• GASTAT official email address:  info@stats.gov.sa
• Official visits to GASTAT’s official head office in Riyadh or one of its branches in Saudi Arabia.
• Official letters.
• Statistical telephone: (199009).