This paper presents the quarterly issue of the IMF’s Direction of Trade Statistics (DOTS). The term “country,” as used in this publication, does not in all cases refer to a territorial entity that is a state as understood by international law and practice; the term also covers some non-sovereign territorial entities, for which statistical data are maintained and provided internationally on a separate and independent basis. The information on exports and imports by trading partners that countries report to the Fund varies in terms of frequency and currentness. No estimates, however, are compiled for periods prior to 1981 or based on benchmark data referring to 1980 or earlier. Moreover, data reported from countries’ own records, even with longer delays, continually broaden the base of reported data, thereby replacing previously estimated figures. Area and world totals are compiled from reported data and these estimates.

This August 2015 issue of Direction of Trade Statistics (DOTS) Quarterly provide, for about 160 countries, tables with current data (or estimates) on the value of imports from and exports to their most important trading partners. The quarterly issues, yearbook, and CD-ROM of the DOTS present, for most member countries of the IMF, current figures on the value of merchandise exports and imports disaggregated according to their most important trading partners. Estimation occurs if a reporting country does not report trade with its partners for a specific period. Data are estimated for all partners and not for some of the partners. In the absence of some or all the monthly DOTS, quarterly or annual reported DOTS are used. When information is not reported and is inadequate to support the estimation techniques, the data are extrapolated using a matrix of trade among broad country groups.

This December 2015 issue of International Financial Statistics is a standard source of statistics on all aspects of international and domestic finance. The monthly printed issue of IFS reports current monthly, quarterly, and annual data, while the yearbook reports 12 observations of annual data. Most annual data on the CD-ROM and Internet begin in 1948; quarterly and monthly data generally begin in 1957; most balance-of-payments data begin in 1970. A nominal effective exchange rate index represents the ratio of an index of a currency’s period-average exchange rate to a weighted geometric average of exchange rates for the currencies of selected countries and the euro area. When a country joins the IMF, it is assigned a quota that fits into the structure of existing quotas. Quotas are considered in the light of the member’s economic characteristics and considering quotas of similar countries.

This September issue of International Financial Statistics (IFS) is a standard source of statistics on all aspects of international and domestic finance. Official BPM6 Basis Data Availability table is now included in the Balance of Payments and International Investment Position Statistics section of the Introduction. Balance of Payments Statistics Yearbook contains two sections; World and Regional Tables, and Country Tables. The first section presents 21 world and regional tables for major components of the balance of payments, net International Investment Position (IIP), and total financial assets and total liabilities for the IIP. The second section provides detailed tables on balance-of-payments statistics for 189 economies and IIP data for 143 economies.

This October 2015 issue of International Financial Statistics (IFS) is a standard source of statistics on all aspects of international and domestic finance. IFS publish, for most countries of the world, current data on exchange rates, international liquidity, international banking, money and banking, interest rates, prices, production, international transactions (including balance of payments and international investment position), government finance, and national accounts. The notes to the country tables in the monthly issues provide information about exceptions in the choice of the consumer price index and the period average exchange rate index. Since January 1, 1981, the value of the SDR has been determined based on the currencies of the five member countries having the largest exports of goods and services during the five-year period ending one year before the date of the latest revision to the valuation basket.

The December 2016 issue of International Financial Statistics (IFS) is a standard source of statistics on all aspects of international and domestic finance. This issue presents countries newly reporting monetary data for Norway using the standardized report forms. In this issue, the following changes have been made: Changes to the group aggregates aligned with those published in the IMF’s World Economic Outlook (WEO): (1) Move of China, P. R.: Macao (546) out of Emerging and Developing Asia (505) to Advanced Economies (110); (2) Move of Bolivia (218) and Colombia (233) out of Export Earnings: Nonfuel economies (092) to Export Earnings: Fuel economies (080). Removal of China, P. R.: Macao (546), Latvia (941), and Lithuania (946) out of Export Earnings: Nonfuel economies (092). For countries where multiple exchange rates are in effect, Fund staff estimates of weighted average exchange rates are used in many cases.

International Financial Statistics, September 2016

This October 2016 issue of International Financial Statistics (IFS) is a standard source of statistics on all aspects of international and domestic finance. This issue presents countries newly reporting monetary data for Rwanda using the standardized report forms. Exchange rates in IFS are classified into three broad categories, reflecting the role of the authorities in determining the rates and/or the multiplicity of the exchange rates in a country. Although the method of calculating the US dollar/SDR exchange rate has remained the same, the currencies’ number and weight have changed over time. Their amount in the SDR basket is reviewed every five years. When a country joins the IMF, it is assigned a quota that fits into the structure of existing quotas. Quotas are considered in the light of the member’s economic characteristics and considering quotas of similar countries.

This second edition explores and accounts for the many changes in the emerging markets of China and the Latin American countries since 2011. Taking account of major developments such as the rapid expansion of the Chinese state and the on-going effects of the global recession, the authors present current case studies and data on both Chinese and Latin American companies, including updates on those included in the first edition and the presentation of new innovative start-ups. Including an international relations perspective alongside business strategy and global markets, The China-Latin America Axis second edition presents the drastic changes in the globalized economy in the past five years.