Methods - Survey

The method used to collect data for foreign trade statistics is explained here.

• Survey territory

  The Principality of Liechtenstein and the enclave of Büsingen belong to the Swiss customs territory and are included in the foreign trade statistics, whereas the valleys of Samnaun and Sampuoir are excluded.

• Data concept

  Internationally a distinction is made between special and general trade. Swiss foreign trade statistics are based on the special trade concept. Imports include merchandise for which an according declaration has been made and which thus may freely circulate. Exports are merchandise goods leaving the Swiss customs territory (for more detailed information, please see the survey concept).

• Survey concept

  Swiss foreign trade statistics cover the imports and exports of goods as follows:

  Importation:

  • direct imports of goods;
  • imports from duty-free warehouses with a final customs declaration;
  • reimports of Swiss goods;
  • electricity;
  • the purchase of ships and airplanes (outside the Swiss customs territory) by persons with domicile or firms with headquarter in Switzerland;
  • goods for processing (with or without change of ownership). This refers to goods imported temporarily for the purpose of being processed or the reimports of Swiss goods processed abroad;
  • returned goods, i.e. goods which owing to non-acceptance, contract termination or non-saleability are returned to the sender in Switzerland unaltered;
  • border traffic, i.e. the movement of goods within a range of ten kilometres on either side of the border.

  Exportation:

  • direct exports of Swiss goods;
  • exports to a duty-free warehouse with a final customs declaration;
  • re-exports of nationalised goods, i.e. previously imported goods which, (with or without processing) are being re-exported;
  • electricity;
  • the sale of ships and airplanes (outside the Swiss customs territory) to persons with domicile or firms with headquarter abroad;
  • goods for processing This refers to goods exported temporarily for the purpose of being processed or goods to be re-exported after being processed in Switzerland;
  • foreign returned goods, i.e. goods which owing to non-acceptance, contract termination or non-saleability are returned to the sender abroad unaltered;
  • border traffic, i.e. the movement of goods within a range of ten kilometres on either side of the border.

  Excluded are:

  • goods transported within a range of ten kilometres on either side of boarder in connection with agricultural- or forestry production;
  • personal items (including imports and exports in tourist traffic);
  • non-tradables, i.e. merchandise which is listed exclusively in the list of exemptions (see: Cap 2.4.4) (e.g. free-of-cost replacement deliveries, etc.);
  • export consignments of small unities (under 100 kg) and of negligible value (under CHF 1,000) which can be declared using the simplified procedure;
  • under certain conditions: imported small consignments with a value of up to CHF 1,000 and a quantity of less than 1,000 kg.

• Data sources

  In essence, the foreign trade statistics are based on data from the customs declarations of importers and exporters or their representatives. However, the data on change of ownership of ships are delivered from the Swiss Maritime Navigation Office and from the Land Register and Land Surveyor's Office ("Grundbuch- und Vermessungsamt") of the Canton of Basel-City.

  Aperçu des sources des données

• Data validation

  Data is subjected to several plausibility checks.

• Timeliness

  We process and publish foreign trade statistics data on a monthly basis. Data for the current year is corrected and updated where necessary and is thus provisional until the year-end closing in mid-May of the following year.

• Electricity data compilation

  Electricity is taken account of the the trade statistics since 2002 (see Info electricity[NF1] ).

  As of January 1st, 2013 a new method to measure border-crossing electricity flows is applied, which is based on net values of electricity imports and exports conducted by electricity traders and no longer on contractual quantities (gross values).

  This change results in an annual decrease of trade in the order of 2 to 4 billion Francs, mainly in trade with Germany. Switzerland's other three trade partners in the sector of electricity, France, Italy and Austria, are also affected, though to a lesser degree.

  • SFOE information circular describing the changes in methodology

    PDF93.73 kB6 May 2013

  Electricity companies are obliged to send data to the Federal Office for Customs and Border Security (FOCBS) electronically once a month. Thus, the companies do not have to make a declaration for each border crossing transaction.

  The electricity data is available three months after the monthly report it corresponds to. Until the actual data is available, the import and export results are estimated by the FOCBS (short-term forecast).

  • Development of trade in electricity since 2008 (data and graphs)

    XLSX137.59 kB27 January 2014

• Further information