## New Estimates for Direction of Trade Statistics

_IMF Working Papers, January 24, 2018_

## Source details

**Canonical URL:** [New Estimates for Direction of Trade Statistics](https://www.imf.org/en/publications/wp/issues/2018/01/24/new-estimates-for-direction-of-trade-statistics-45582)

## Other formats

- [Markdown version](/en/publications/wp/issues/2018/01/24/new-estimates-for-direction-of-trade-statistics-45582/index.md)
- [Structured JSON version](/en/publications/wp/issues/2018/01/24/new-estimates-for-direction-of-trade-statistics-45582/index.json)
- [Bundle manifest](/en/publications/wp/issues/2018/01/24/new-estimates-for-direction-of-trade-statistics-45582/bundle-manifest.json)

## Bibliographic details
- Authors: Marco Marini, Robert Dippelsman, Michael Stanger
- Published: January 24, 2018
- Series: IMF Working Papers
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.5089/9781484338629.001

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### Methodology
- The paper documents a new methodology developed to estimate missing observations of bilateral trade statistics on a monthly basis.
- The estimation procedure is founded on a benchmarking method that produces monthly estimates based on official trade statistics by partner country reported at different times and frequencies.
- The paper describes the new estimation methodology in detail.

### Data sources and incorporation
- Additional data sources have been incorporated into the Direction of Trade Statistics (DOTS) dataset as part of the March 2017 upgrade.
- The benchmarking method uses official trade statistics by partner country reported at different times and frequencies to produce monthly estimates.

### Impact assessment
- The paper assesses the impact of the new estimates on trade measurement in DOTS at global, regional, and country-specific levels.
- Assessment covers changes to measurement of direction of trade, exports, imports, plurilateral trade, and trade balance.

### Suggested developments and policy relevance
- The paper suggests developments of DOTS to strengthen its relevance for IMF bilateral and multilateral surveillance.
- Emphasis on improving partner-country detail and the statistics database to better inform IMF surveillance.

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## Content in this bundle

- **New Estimates for Direction of Trade Statistics, WP/18/16, January 2018**
  - [New Estimates for Direction of Trade Statistics, WP/18/16, January 2018 (Markdown version)](/-/media/files/publications/wp/2018/wp1816.pdf.md){rel="alternate" type="text/markdown"}
  - [New Estimates for Direction of Trade Statistics, WP/18/16, January 2018 (PDF)](/-/media/files/publications/wp/2018/wp1816.pdf){rel="external" type="application/pdf"}

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_Source: https://www.imf.org/en/publications/wp/issues/2018/01/24/new-estimates-for-direction-of-trade-statistics-45582_