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Methodology

3.5 Trade Balance

The economic importance of the foreign balance and the possibility of obtaining figures on the foreign activity carried out by VAT reporting companies make it relevant to include data on exports and intra-Community deliveries, and imports and intra-Community acquisitions of goods.

The Balance of Trade (SBC2) is calculated as the difference between the total foreign outflows or sales and the total foreign inflows or purchases of goods.

SBC2 = Foreign sales - Foreign purchases of goods = (X +EI) - (MDUA + AICBC + BI).

Foreign Purchases of Goods

Sum of entries from imports (MDUA), intra-community acquisitions of goods (AICBC) and operations assimilated to imports (BI).

Foreign Sales

Sum of export outputs (X) and intra-community deliveries of goods (EI).

TRADE BALANCE SBC2
FOREIGN PURCHASES OF GOODS
Imports to third parties MDUA
Intra-EU acquisitions of goods AICBC
Operations assimilated to import BI
FOREIGN SALES VED
Exports to third parties X
Intra-community deliveries EI