Chapter 1
Introduction

1.1

Brief Description of the Export and Import Statistical Databank

This databank consists of 1,457 time series. The bank's short name is TRADE.

Data published in: Monthly Statistics of Exports and Imports, Taiwan Area, the Republic of China, Tables 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, Appendix Table 1, 2.

Data released by: Department of Statistics, Ministry of Finance.

Data updated monthly.

1.2 Composition of Retrieval Codes

In Chapter 2, we will list all retrieval codes of TRADE according to the Table order in the publication. In Chapter 3, the same retrieval codes are listed alphabetically.

We hope you may easily find the retrieval codes for the data you need in Chapters 2 and 3. However, it might be helpful if you are familiar with how we construct these retrieval codes. Generally speaking, each retrieval code has two parts:

(1) The first part consists of a certain English abbreviation to represent a particular "concept" in the export and import statistics. A list of these English abbreviations are as follows:

EX -- Value of Exports (in millions of NT$).
M -- Value of Imports (in millions of NT$).
J -- Index.
JQ -- Quantum Index.
JUV -- Unit Value Index.

(2) The second part is a "modifier" placed right behind the initial English abbreviation. The modifier is used to subdivide the major concepts either by "country" or by "industry" (with CCC code or SITC code).

Examples of retrieval codes with "country modifier" are:

EX@FRA : Value of Exports - to France.
M@FRA : Value of Imports - from France.
EX@US : Value of Exports - to United States.
EX@ASIA : Value of Exports - to Asia.

Examples of retrieval codes with "CCC code industry modifier" are:

EXCCC60 : Export Value by CCC code - Knitted or Crocheted Fabrics.
MCCC60 : Import Value by CCC code - Knitted or Crocheted Fabrics.

Examples of retrieval codes with "SITC code industry modifier" are:

EXSITC01 : Export Value by SITC - 01. Meat and Meat Preparations.
MSITC89 : Import Value by SITC - 89. Miscellaneous Manufactured Articles N.E.S.

(3) Finally, some retrieval codes end with "$" sign -- meaning that these statistics are "in term of US$." All export and import statistcs are published in either US$ or new NT$. Our databank contains both sets of statistics and the retrieval codes are differentiated by either ending with "$" or not.