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Foreign Trade Glossary
Reference Materials
Classification
Confidentiality
Using Foreign Trade Statistics
The following glossary lists terms used throughout the ABS Foreign Trade Statistics web pages. Other terms relating to foreign trade statistics and statistical collections generally are also included. Click on the hyperlinked terms to be taken to the definition for that term. Clicking on the names of surveys and other data collections will take you to our Directory of Statistical Sources pages.
If the term you are looking for is not listed here, try our Methods, Classifications, Concepts and Standards.
The ABS produces statistics on the value, composition, destination and source of Australia’s merchandise exports and imports. See the Customised Data in the Foreign Trade Releases section for more details.
The ABS applies a range of procedures to ensure the quality of trade data. For a discussion of data quality issues see the Information Paper: International Trade - Ensuring Data Quality, 2008 in the Reference Materials section below.
Foreign Trade Glossary
The glossary lists and explains technical or unfamiliar words used in foreign trade statistics.
Reference Materials
The reference materials provide cross reference to other ABS products and services in the context of foreign trade. For more information click on the following links:
Classification
One of the classifications used by the ABS for its international merchandise trade statistics is the Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System, known as the Harmonized System (HS). The HS is an hierarchical classification developed by the World Customs Organization. The latest revision to the HS will be implemented on 1 January 2012. Australia has expanded the HS to create the Australian Harmonized Export Commodity Classification (AHECC) and Combined Australian Customs Tariff Nomenclature and Statistical Classification (Customs Tariff) to provide further commodity detail for its exports and imports. For more information click on the following links:
- 5489.0 International Merchandise Trade, Australia, Concepts, Sources and Methods, Chapter 4 - Classifications
- 5499.0.55.001 Information Paper: International Trade Classification Feasibility Studies, 2001
- 1233.0 Australian Harmonized Export Commodity Classification (AHECC) - Electronic Publication, Jan 2012
AHECC, January 2012
The latest version of AHECC Jan 2012 issue was released on the ABS website on 22 August 2011. Details of changes are included in Table 2. Key of Changes.
The January 2012 incorporates:
- A summary table (Table 1) that includes chapter headings, units of quantity and other abbreviations used in the AHECC, currency and country codes.
- All AHECC Section and Chapter Notes and codes, These are divided into Sections in Tables 2 to 23.
- Table 24 is the AHECC electronic file which provides the complete AHECC 2, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 digit codes and descriptors in different columns for use by exporters and agents to upload into their computer system. The Free Standing Descriptors (FSDs) included in this spreadsheet were developed as a guide for statistical clients only and standard classification principles should be applied when classifying goods. This is not a print friendly version and has been zipped due to its size. As well as including FSDs for new codes all FSDs for Chapters 1 to 50, except Chapters 28 and 29 have been revised and these FSDs are included in this table.
Historical issues of the AHECC
If you require a copy of the previous AHECC, the January 2007 AHECC version is available in similar format at AHECC Jan 2007. This version should be used for classification of exports departing prior to 1 January 2012.
Customs Tariff, January 2012
The Customs Tariff is available on the Customs and Border Protection Service website <www.customs.gov.au> from the working tariff 2012.
Changes to AHECC and Customs Tariff, 2012
The Information Paper: Changes to AHECC and Customs Tariff, 2012 (cat. no. 5368.0.55.017) describes the changes that resulted from the Harmonized System and statistical code reviews. This paper includes tables showing all codes for AHECC and Customs Tariff active as at 1 January 2012 and a correspondence between the ceasing codes and the codes that replaced them.
Confidentiality
Foreign trade statistics are confidentialised to prevent the identification of the activities of individual exporters and importers, where this is requested by the individual or organisation concerned and it is determined that their data would otherwise be identifiable. When analysing trade data it is important to take into account restrictions that apply and how they have changed over time. These restrictions are detailed in the Confidential Commodity List which is updated monthly. For more information click on the following links:
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This page first published 8 May 2006, last updated 9 February 2012 |
