The collection of the external trade in goods data is based on three pillars – in accordance with the methodology of the European Union:
statistics on external trade in goods transacted with the EU member states based on data received via questionnaires from companies participating in the external trade in goods (Intrastat),
statistics on external trade in goods transacted with the EU member states based on so-called external trade in goods microdata (MDE) received from EU member states (Intrastat),
and data on external trade in goods transacted with countries outside the EU, based on the records of the National Tax and Customs Administration prepared during customs procedures (Extrastat).
The Hungarian Central Statistical Office (HCSO), in accordance with the relevant regulations, does not collect EU turnover data in full. More than nine tenth of companies are exempted from the data providing obligation, however this means that only 3–6% of total turnover is excluded from statistical observation. Data from companies exempted from supplying data (based on annual threshold or data quality) as well as of companies that do not comply with their data providing obligation are estimated and supplemented by the Hungarian Central Statistical Office using administrative data sources and time series.
Scope of observation: the observation of the external trade in goods turnover is based on taking stock of products crossing the borders of the country's economic territory. With the limitation that – excepting goods transported under active inward processing or processing under customs supervision as well as transit transactions, - products entering or being transported abroad from customs warehouses or commercial free zones are not included in the statistics.
The value of external trade in goods turnover is expressed in terms of c.i.f. for imports and f.o.b. parity for exports. C.i.f.: the market value of the imported goods at the Hungarian border, including the transport and insurance costs incurred in transporting the goods to the border. F.o.b.: the market value of the exported goods at the Hungarian border, including the transport and insurance costs incurred in transporting the goods to the border.
In the case of EU transactions, the conversion of transactions concluded in foreign currency into HUF is carried out at the bank's mid-exchange rate, on the day of the contract performance, as specified in the data provider's accounting policy. The data published in EUR and US dollar are calculated by the HCSO from values calculated in HUF, based on the average monthly exchange rate of the National Bank of Hungary.
Base data are collected according to the Combined Nomenclature (CN), a mandatory customs and foreign trade statistical classification for EU member states.
The foreign trade turnover balance is the difference between the value of export and import turnover.
The classification by main commodity groups is prepared according to the UN Standard International Trade Classification (SITC Rev. 4).
The data, detailed by groups of countries are based on the observation according to the country of destination in the case of exports and the country of dispatch (not the country of origin) in the case of imports.
Price indices show the price level changes in HUF. The external trade in goods price statistics show the price changes of the goods included in the external trade turnover. These are determined by using elementary data of the external trade in goods (OSAP 2012 – Intrastat arrivals; OSAP 2010 – Intrastat dispatches; OSAP 1475 – Customs declaration data; MDE - External trade in goods microdata). The multitude whose price changes are marked by price indices, is the range of products included in Hungary’s external trade turnover carried out within the framework of 'Transactions involving actual change of ownership with financial compensation', with the exception of direct sales with/between private consumers. Return and replacement of goods, transactions involving intended change of ownership or change of ownership without financial compensation, transactions with a view to processing under contract, transactions following processing under contract and barter transactions, rental, loan and leasing transactions are not included in the scope of observation. The indices are aggregated with the goods’ turnover weights of the above transactions, according to the Fisher formula.
Volume indices are calculated as the quotient of value and price indices determined from the data in HUF (deflation method).
Methodological sources:Intrastat forms, Intrastat Guide & Manual, European business statistics compilers' manual for international trade in goods statistics – detailed data – 2025 edition