2008 international trade statistics yearbook

The 2008 International Trade Statistics Yearbook (2008 ITSY) is being issued in two redesigned volumes which are prepared at different points in time during 2009. Volume I is compiled early in 2009 to allow for an advanced release of an overview of international merchandise trade in 2008 and for a much earlier publication of the available 2008 country (area) data. Volume II contains the detailed tables showing international trade in main commodity groups and is finalized approximately six months after the submission of Volume I as the preparation of those tables requires additional country data which become available later in the year. Volume I has been redesigned in respect to the presentation of data for individual countries with the aim to provide a more analytical and condensed view of a country’s trade performance (country trade profile). Overall, data for a total of 173 countries (or areas) are shown in Volume I with the 2008 data on imports and exports by commodity and trading partner.