National statistics
Regional trade in goods statistics methodology: annexes
Updated 31 January 2024
© Crown copyright 2024
This publication is licensed under the terms of the Open Government Licence v3.0 except where otherwise stated. To view this licence, visit nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3 or write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gov.uk.
Where we have identified any third party copyright information you will need to obtain permission from the copyright holders concerned.
This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/overseas-trade-statistics-methodologies/regional-trade-in-goods-statistics-methodology-annexes
1. Annex A: Format
1.1 Statistics:
- Statistical Value expressed in £000s (Sterling), nominal prices
- Weight expressed in tonnes
1.2 Categories:
- Flow (import / export)
- Commodity (SITC Division (2 digit) classification of product traded)
- Partner Country (individual or grouped depending on country)
- Region (England (by Government Office Region), Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland or ‘Unallocated-Known’, ‘Unallocated-Unknown’)
- Period (from quarter one 1996 onward, tabulated quarterly or annually) {:#annex-a}
2. Annex B: SITC (Rev.4) Divisions
2.1 Section 0 Food and live animals
- Division 00 Live animals other than animals of division 03
- Division 01 Meat and meat preparations
- Division 02 Dairy products and birds’ eggs
- Division 03 Fish (not marine mammals), crustaceans, molluscs and aquatic invertebrates, and preparations thereof
- Division 04 Cereals and cereal preparations
- Division 05 Vegetables and fruit
- Division 06 Sugars, sugar preparations and honey
- Division 07 Coffee, tea, cocoa, spices, and manufactures thereof
- Division 08 Feeding stuff for animals (not including unmilled cereals)
- Division 09 Miscellaneous edible products and preparations
2.2 Section 1 Beverages and tobacco
- Division 11 Beverages
- Division 12 Tobacco and tobacco manufactures
2.3 Section 2 Crude materials, inedible, except fuels
- Division 21 Hides, skins and furskins, raw
- Division 22 Oil-seeds and oleaginous fruits
- Division 23 Crude rubber (including synthetic and reclaimed)
- Division 24 Cork and wood
- Division 25 Pulp and waste paper
- Division 26 Textile fibres (other than wool tops and other combed wool) and their wastes (not manufactured into yarn or fabric)
- Division 27 Crude fertilizers, other than those of division 56, and crude minerals (excluding coal, petroleum and precious stones)
- Division 28 Metalliferous ores and metal scrap
- Division 29 Crude animal and vegetable materials, n.e.s.
2.4 Section 3 Mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials
- Division 32 Coal, coke and briquettes
- Division 33 Petroleum, petroleum products and related materials
- Division 34 Gas, natural and manufactured
- Division 35 Electric current
2.5 Section 4 Animal and vegetable oils, fats and waxes
- Division 41 Animal oils and fats
- Division 42 Fixed vegetable fats and oils, crude, refined or fractionated
- Division 43 Animal or vegetable fats and oils, processed; waxes of animal or vegetable origin; inedible mixtures or preparations of animal or vegetable fats or oils, n.e.s.
2.6 Section 5 Chemicals and related products, n.e.s.
- Division 51 Organic chemicals
- Division 52 Inorganic chemicals
- Division 53 Dyeing, tanning and colouring materials
- Division 54 Medicinal and pharmaceutical products
- Division 55 Essential oils and resinoids and perfume materials; toilet, polishing and cleaning preparations
- Division 56 Fertilizers (other than those of group 272)
- Division 57 Plastics in primary forms
- Division 58 Plastics in non primary forms
- Division 59 Chemical materials and products, n.e.s.
2.7 Section 6 Manufactured goods classified chiefly by material
- Division 61 Leather, leather manufactures, n.e.s., and dressed furskins
- Division 62 Rubber manufactures, n.e.s.
- Division 63 Cork and wood manufactures (excluding furniture)
- Division 64 Paper, paperboard and articles of paper pulp, of paper or of paperboard
- Division 65 Textile yarn, fabrics, made up articles, n.e.s., and related products
- Division 66 Non metallic mineral manufactures, n.e.s.
- Division 67 Iron and steel
- Division 68 Non ferrous metals
- Division 69 Manufactures of metals, n.e.s.
2.8 Section 7 Machinery and transport equipment
- Division 71 Power generating machinery and equipment
- Division 72 Machinery specialized for particular industries
- Division 73 Metalworking machinery
- Division 74 General industrial machinery and equipment, n.e.s., and machine parts, n.e.s.
- Division 75 Office machines and automatic data processing machines
- Division 76 Telecommunications and sound recording and reproducing apparatus and equipment
- Division 77 Electrical machinery, apparatus and appliances, n.e.s., and electrical parts thereof (including non electrical counterparts, n.e.s., of electrical household type equipment)
- Division 78 Road vehicles (including air cushion vehicles)
- Division 79 Other transport equipment
2.9 Section 8 Miscellaneous manufactured articles
- Division 81 Prefabricated buildings; sanitary, plumbing, heating and lighting fixtures and fittings, n.e.s.
- Division 82 Furniture, and parts thereof; bedding, mattresses, mattress supports, cushions and similar stuffed furnishings
- Division 83 Travel goods, handbags and similar containers
- Division 84 Articles of apparel and clothing accessories
- Division 85 Footwear
- Division 87 Professional, scientific and controlling instruments and apparatus, n.e.s.
- Division 88 Photographic apparatus, equipment and supplies and optical goods, n.e.s.; watches and clocks
- Division 89 Miscellaneous manufactured articles, n.e.s.
3. Annex C: Commodities and transactions not classified elsewhere in the SITC
3.1 Country Groups
Up to December 2006
- Asia and Oceania
- Eastern Europe (excluding EU25)
- European Union 25
- Latin America and Caribbean
- Middle East and North Africa (excluding EU25)
- North America
- Sub-Saharan Africa
- Western Europe (excluding EU25)
January 2007 – June 2013
- Asia and Oceania
- Eastern Europe (excluding EU27)
- European Union 27
- Latin America and Caribbean
- Middle East and North Africa (excluding EU27)
- North America
- Sub-Saharan Africa
- Western Europe (excluding EU27)
From July 2013
- Asia and Oceania
- Eastern Europe (excluding EU28)
- European Union 28
- Latin America and Caribbean
- Middle East and North Africa (excluding EU28)
- North America
- Sub-Saharan Africa
- Western Europe (excluding EU28)
UK Regions
- North East
- North West
- Yorkshire and the Humber
- East Midlands
- West Midlands
- East
- London
- South East
- South West Wales
- Scotland
-
Northern Ireland
- Unallocated - Known
- Unallocated - Unknown
4. Annex D: Suppressed countries on RTS
The following is a list of all countries for which OTS data is available, with their current suppression status for RTS. This list is applied from 2016 Q3 release onwards and will be reviewed every five years. RTS data is not available at country level for those countries that are suppressed:
| Country | Geographical Area | Suppressed Country |
|---|---|---|
| Australia | Asia and Oceania | No |
| Bangladesh | Asia and Oceania | No |
| China | Asia and Oceania | No |
| Hong Kong | Asia and Oceania | No |
| India | Asia and Oceania | No |
| Indonesia | Asia and Oceania | No |
| Japan | Asia and Oceania | No |
| Malaysia | Asia and Oceania | No |
| New Zealand | Asia and Oceania | No |
| Pakistan | Asia and Oceania | No |
| Singapore | Asia and Oceania | No |
| South Korea | Asia and Oceania | No |
| Sri Lanka | Asia and Oceania | No |
| Taiwan | Asia and Oceania | No |
| Thailand | Asia and Oceania | No |
| Vietnam | Asia and Oceania | No |
| Afghanistan | Asia and Oceania | Yes |
| American Samoa | Asia and Oceania | Yes |
| Antarctica | Asia and Oceania | Yes |
| Bhutan | Asia and Oceania | Yes |
| Bouvet Island | Asia and Oceania | Yes |
| Brunei | Asia and Oceania | Yes |
| Burma | Asia and Oceania | Yes |
| Cambodia | Asia and Oceania | Yes |
| Christmas Is | Asia and Oceania | Yes |
| Cocos Islands | Asia and Oceania | Yes |
| Cook Islands | Asia and Oceania | Yes |
| Fiji | Asia and Oceania | Yes |
| Fr Southern Terr | Asia and Oceania | Yes |
| French Polynesia | Asia and Oceania | Yes |
| Guam | Asia and Oceania | Yes |
| Heard & McDonald | Asia and Oceania | Yes |
| Kiribati | Asia and Oceania | Yes |
| Laos | Asia and Oceania | Yes |
| Macao | Asia and Oceania | Yes |
| Maldives | Asia and Oceania | Yes |
| Marshall Islands | Asia and Oceania | Yes |
| Micronesia | Asia and Oceania | Yes |
| Mongolia | Asia and Oceania | Yes |
| N Mariana Is | Asia and Oceania | Yes |
| Nauru | Asia and Oceania | Yes |
| Nepal | Asia and Oceania | Yes |
| New Caledonia | Asia and Oceania | Yes |
| Niue Island | Asia and Oceania | Yes |
| Norfolk Island | Asia and Oceania | Yes |
| North Korea | Asia and Oceania | Yes |
| Palau | Asia and Oceania | Yes |
| Papua New Guinea | Asia and Oceania | Yes |
| Philippines | Asia and Oceania | Yes |
| Pitcairn | Asia and Oceania | Yes |
| Samoa | Asia and Oceania | Yes |
| Solomon Islands | Asia and Oceania | Yes |
| Timor-Leste | Asia and Oceania | Yes |
| Tonga | Asia and Oceania | Yes |
| Tuvalu | Asia and Oceania | Yes |
| US Minor Islands | Asia and Oceania | Yes |
| Vanuatu | Asia and Oceania | Yes |
| Wallis and Futuna | Asia and Oceania | Yes |
| Country | Geographical Area | Suppressed Country |
|---|---|---|
| Azerbaijan | Eastern Europe (excl. EU) | No |
| Fyr Macedonia | Eastern Europe (excl. EU) | No |
| Georgia | Eastern Europe (excl. EU) | No |
| Kazakhstan | Eastern Europe (excl. EU) | No |
| Russia | Eastern Europe (excl. EU) | No |
| Serbia | Eastern Europe (excl. EU) | No |
| Ukraine | Eastern Europe (excl. EU) | No |
| Albania | Eastern Europe (excl. EU) | Yes |
| Armenia | Eastern Europe (excl. EU) | Yes |
| Belarus | Eastern Europe (excl. EU) | Yes |
| Bosnia & Herz | Eastern Europe (excl. EU) | Yes |
| Kosovo | Eastern Europe (excl. EU) | Yes |
| Kyrkyz Republic | Eastern Europe (excl. EU) | Yes |
| Moldova | Eastern Europe (excl. EU) | Yes |
| Montenegro | Eastern Europe (excl. EU) | Yes |
| Tajikistan | Eastern Europe (excl. EU) | Yes |
| Turkmenistan | Eastern Europe (excl. EU) | Yes |
| Uzbekistan | Eastern Europe (excl. EU) | Yes |
| Country | Geographical Area | Suppressed Country |
|---|---|---|
| Austria | European Union | No |
| Belgium | European Union | No |
| Bulgaria | European Union | No |
| Cyprus | European Union | No |
| Croatia | European Union | No |
| Czech Republic | European Union | No |
| Denmark | European Union | No |
| Estonia | European Union | No |
| Finland | European Union | No |
| France | European Union | No |
| Germany | European Union | No |
| Greece | European Union | No |
| Hungary | European Union | No |
| Republic of Ireland | European Union | No |
| Italy | European Union | No |
| Latvia | European Union | No |
| Lithuania | European Union | No |
| Luxembourg | European Union | No |
| Malta | European Union | No |
| Netherlands | European Union | No |
| Poland | European Union | No |
| Portugal | European Union | No |
| Romania | European Union | No |
| Slovakia | European Union | No |
| Slovenia | European Union | No |
| Spain | European Union | No |
| Sweden | European Union | No |
| Country | Geographical Area | Suppressed Country |
|---|---|---|
| Argentina | Latin America and Caribbean | No |
| Brazil | Latin America and Caribbean | No |
| Chile | Latin America and Caribbean | No |
| Colombia | Latin America and Caribbean | No |
| Costa Rica | Latin America and Caribbean | No |
| Dominican Rep | Latin America and Caribbean | No |
| Ecuador | Latin America and Caribbean | No |
| Falkland Islands | Latin America and Caribbean | No |
| Guatemala | Latin America and Caribbean | No |
| Honduras | Latin America and Caribbean | No |
| Panama | Latin America and Caribbean | No |
| Peru | Latin America and Caribbean | No |
| Trinidad & Tobago | Latin America and Caribbean | No |
| Uruguay | Latin America and Caribbean | No |
| Venezuela | Latin America and Caribbean | No |
| Anguilla | Latin America and Caribbean | Yes |
| Antigua & Barbuda | Latin America and Caribbean | Yes |
| Aruba | Latin America and Caribbean | Yes |
| Bahamas | Latin America and Caribbean | Yes |
| Barbados | Latin America and Caribbean | Yes |
| Belize | Latin America and Caribbean | Yes |
| Bermuda | Latin America and Caribbean | Yes |
| Bolivia | Latin America and Caribbean | Yes |
| Bonaire | Latin America and Caribbean | Yes |
| Br Virgin Is | Latin America and Caribbean | Yes |
| Cayman Islands | Latin America and Caribbean | Yes |
| Cuba | Latin America and Caribbean | Yes |
| Curacao | Latin America and Caribbean | Yes |
| Dominica | Latin America and Caribbean | Yes |
| El Salvador | Latin America and Caribbean | Yes |
| Grenada | Latin America and Caribbean | Yes |
| Guyana | Latin America and Caribbean | Yes |
| Haiti | Latin America and Caribbean | Yes |
| Jamaica | Latin America and Caribbean | Yes |
| Montserrat | Latin America and Caribbean | Yes |
| Nicaragua | Latin America and Caribbean | Yes |
| Paraguay | Latin America and Caribbean | Yes |
| Saint Barthelemy | Latin America and Caribbean | Yes |
| Saint Maarten | Latin America and Caribbean | Yes |
| St Kitts and Nevis | Latin America and Caribbean | Yes |
| St Lucia | Latin America and Caribbean | Yes |
| St Vincent | Latin America and Caribbean | Yes |
| Surinam | Latin America and Caribbean | Yes |
| Turks & Caicos | Latin America and Caribbean | Yes |
| US Virgin Is | Latin America and Caribbean | Yes |
| Country | Geographical Area | Suppressed Country |
|---|---|---|
| Algeria | Middle East and North Africa | No |
| Bahrain | Middle East and North Africa | No |
| Egypt | Middle East and North Africa | No |
| Iraq | Middle East and North Africa | No |
| Israel | Middle East and North Africa | No |
| Jordan | Middle East and North Africa | No |
| Kuwait | Middle East and North Africa | No |
| Lebanon | Middle East and North Africa | No |
| Morocco | Middle East and North Africa | No |
| Oman | Middle East and North Africa | No |
| Qatar | Middle East and North Africa | No |
| Saudi Arabia | Middle East and North Africa | No |
| UAE | Middle East and North Africa | No |
| Ceuta | Middle East and North Africa | Yes |
| Iran | Middle East and North Africa | Yes |
| Libya | Middle East and North Africa | Yes |
| Melilla | Middle East and North Africa | Yes |
| Occ Palestinian Territories | Middle East and North Africa | Yes |
| South Sudan | Middle East and North Africa | Yes |
| Sudan | Middle East and North Africa | Yes |
| Syria | Middle East and North Africa | Yes |
| Tunisia | Middle East and North Africa | Yes |
| Yemen | Middle East and North Africa | Yes |
| Country | Geographical Area | Suppressed Country |
|---|---|---|
| Canada | North America | No |
| Mexico | North America | No |
| USA incl. Puerto Rico | North America | No |
| Greenland | North America | Yes |
| St Pierre-Mique | North America | Yes |
| Country | Geographical Area | Suppressed Country |
|---|---|---|
| Angola | Sub-Saharan Africa | No |
| Cameroon | Sub-Saharan Africa | No |
| Congo (Republic) | Sub-Saharan Africa | No |
| Equat. Guinea | Sub-Saharan Africa | No |
| Ethiopia | Sub-Saharan Africa | No |
| Ghana | Sub-Saharan Africa | No |
| Ivory Coast | Sub-Saharan Africa | No |
| Kenya | Sub-Saharan Africa | No |
| Mauritius | Sub-Saharan Africa | No |
| Nigeria | Sub-Saharan Africa | No |
| Senegal | Sub-Saharan Africa | No |
| South Africa | Sub-Saharan Africa | No |
| Tanzania | Sub-Saharan Africa | No |
| Benin | Sub-Saharan Africa | Yes |
| Botswana | Sub-Saharan Africa | Yes |
| Br Ind Oc Terr | Sub-Saharan Africa | Yes |
| Burkina | Sub-Saharan Africa | Yes |
| Burundi | Sub-Saharan Africa | Yes |
| Cape Verde | Sub-Saharan Africa | Yes |
| Cent Afr Rep | Sub-Saharan Africa | Yes |
| Chad | Sub-Saharan Africa | Yes |
| Comoros | Sub-Saharan Africa | Yes |
| Congo (Dem. Rep) | Sub-Saharan Africa | Yes |
| Djibouti | Sub-Saharan Africa | Yes |
| Eritrea | Sub-Saharan Africa | Yes |
| Gabon | Sub-Saharan Africa | Yes |
| Gambia | Sub-Saharan Africa | Yes |
| Guinea | Sub-Saharan Africa | Yes |
| Guinea-Bissau | Sub-Saharan Africa | Yes |
| Lesotho | Sub-Saharan Africa | Yes |
| Liberia | Sub-Saharan Africa | Yes |
| Madagascar | Sub-Saharan Africa | Yes |
| Malawi | Sub-Saharan Africa | Yes |
| Mali | Sub-Saharan Africa | Yes |
| Mauritania | Sub-Saharan Africa | Yes |
| Mozambique | Sub-Saharan Africa | Yes |
| Namibia | Sub-Saharan Africa | Yes |
| Niger | Sub-Saharan Africa | Yes |
| Rwanda | Sub-Saharan Africa | Yes |
| Sao Tome-Princ. | Sub-Saharan Africa | Yes |
| Seychelles | Sub-Saharan Africa | Yes |
| Sierra Leone | Sub-Saharan Africa | Yes |
| Somalia | Sub-Saharan Africa | Yes |
| St Helena | Sub-Saharan Africa | Yes |
| Swaziland | Sub-Saharan Africa | Yes |
| Togo | Sub-Saharan Africa | Yes |
| Uganda | Sub-Saharan Africa | Yes |
| Western Sahara | Sub-Saharan Africa | Yes |
| Zambia | Sub-Saharan Africa | Yes |
| Zimbabwe | Sub-Saharan Africa | Yes |
| Country | Geographical Area | Suppressed Country |
|---|---|---|
| Gibraltar | Western Europe (excl. EU) | No |
| Iceland | Western Europe (excl. EU) | No |
| Norway | Western Europe (excl. EU) | No |
| Switzerland | Western Europe (excl. EU) | No |
| Turkey | Western Europe (excl. EU) | No |
| Andorra | Western Europe (excl. EU) | Yes |
| Faroe Islands | Western Europe (excl. EU) | Yes |
| Liechtenstein | Western Europe (excl. EU) | Yes |
| San Marino | Western Europe (excl. EU) | Yes |
| Vatican City | Western Europe (excl. EU) | Yes |