FAQ foreign trade statistics

This page answers frequently asked questions about Swiss foreign trade statistics, including definitions, data availability, and delivery methods. It also explains the difference between trade totals and their components.

Definition

• What is covered by FOCBS Swiss foreign trade statistics?

  Basically, foreign trade covers the international movement of goods, i.e. the import, export and transit of commercial goods. The individual cross-border shopping is for example excluded.

  For more details: click here (Survey concept).

• Are services also contained in the foreign trade statistics of the Federal Office for Customs and Border Security ?

  No. In accordance with the concept for foreign trade statistics, services are not covered by the Federal Office for Customs and Border Security (FOCBS). The Swiss National Bank (SNB) publishes statistics on international trade in services.

• Why are the results of foreign trade statistics available according to two totals?

  The foreign trade statistics results are published by business cycle total (total 1) and general total (total 2). The difference between the totals lies in the fact that total 2 includes precious metals, precious stones and gems, works of art and antiques, while total 1 does not. Total 1 is used primarily for economic (business cycle) consideration, whereas the general total (total 2) is preferred to measure total flows and to compare results with other countries.

Data availability and access

• How far back do the figures for foreign trade statistics go?

  The oldest figures date back to 1847. Electronic data is available from 1988 onwards.

• How are the foreign trade statistics subdivided?

  The foreign trade statistics are subdivided into national and international nomenclatures (directories), according to goods groups (nature, broad economic categories, CPA, etc.), industry sectors (NOGA), countries (groups and continents), cantons and transport sectors.

• Are foreign trade statistics available for small and medium-sized enterprises (SME)?

  Yes. Foreign trade is also broken down by enterprise size, based on the number of employees. SMEs are enterprise with less than 250 employees, whereas large enterprises register 250 employees or more. For more details: see the definition of the Federal Statistical Office.

• Where can I find the next release and update dates of the foreign trade results?

  The release dates for the new foreign trade results are available here.

• How can I access data and publications on foreign trade statistics?

  The main results can be downloaded free of charge from the website or from the basic version of the database Swiss-Impex. Customized products can be ordered from the FOCBS Unit “Statistical Information” according to the established conditions and price list.

  • Products of the foreign trade statistics and price list 2025

    PDF163.41 kB1 January 2025

• Can I receive data on imports/exports at the level of individual firms/companies?

  No. For legal reasons (data protection), the FOCBS is not allowed to provide third parties with information on the companies involved. This also includes merely disclosing the names of companies.

Method

• What does it mean when certain results are only provisional?

  During the current year and up to the middle of May of the following year, the foreign trade statistics data being is corrected (subsequent data entries, adjustments, etc.). Only after this point in time can the results be considered to be final.

• Are there also foreign trade statistics available based on real evolution (i.e. inflation-adjusted)?

  Yes. The foreign trade index breaks down the nominal evolution into price and volume components. It thus allows a statement to be made on the real development of foreign trade for the business cycle total and all product groups according to the nature of goods, to the broad economic categories or the CPA classification.

• Why do the foreign trade statistics not correspond to the import/export figures in the system of national accounts?

  Border crossing is the relevant criterion for the FOCBS foreign trade statistics, whereas the national accounts and the balance of payments are concerned with change of ownership. Internationally these two divergent definitions are the rule. The boarding crossing criterion meets the UN standards (International Merchandise Trade Statistics IMTS) and change of ownership meets the standards of the International Monetary Fund (Balance of Payments and International Investment Position Manual BPM). The Federal Statistical Office explains how foreign trade statistics are converted into the results of the system of national accounts in a methodological note.