We are currently developing the documentation of statistics. At the moment, the content is not necessarily up-to-date in all respects.
Transit transport statistics: documentation of statistics
The documentation of the statistics describes how the statistics were compiled and what methods were used in the compilation. The data help interpret the figures of the statistics and evaluate their reliability and comparability. The quality report is based on the EU's SIMS model. The documentation also contains change releases describing changes in the statistics and possible specifying methodological descriptions.
If you are looking for statistical figures for these statistics, go to the statistics page: Transit transport statistics
Quality report
Data description (SIMS 3.1)
The statistics have been discontinued. The statistics on transit transport describe the flows of goods across the eastern Finnish border, mainly to and from Russia through Finland to other countries. The statistics monitor especially the flows of goods through Finland of the foreign trade of countries east of Finland. The examination focuses on transports on the three main forms of transport by sea, railway and road. Statistics Finland has been commissioned by the Ministry of Transport and Communications to produce transit transport statistics since 1997.
Concepts and definitions (SIMS 3.4)
Total transit transport
Total transit transport describes the volume of goods carried by transit transport through Finland. The volume of total transit transport is obtained by adding together the volumes of transit transports by road and rail or by examining the volume of transit transport by sea. The volumes of transit transports by road and rail do not add up exactly to the volume of transit transport by sea due to differences in the methods for compiling statistics on different forms of transport.
Transit transport
Transit transport refers to transport of a load through one country while the places of departure and destination are in another country or countries and the load is transported through the transit country without loading or unloading.
Transit transport by rail
Transit transport by rail refers to transportation in the same railway carriage through one country while the places of departure and destination are in another country. In Statistics Finland's statistics on transit transport through Finland transit transport by rail refers to the volume of rail transit transport crossing the Finnish eastern border. Transit transport by rail mainly comprises transit transport of goods from and to Finnish harbours. In addition, a small volume of transit transport by rail takes place across the Finnish land border in the north.
Transit transport by road
Transit transport by road refers to transport in a vehicle through a country when the places of loading and unloading of the goods are in different countries. Transit transport by road describes the volume of transit transports crossing the Finnish eastern border by road. Transit transports by road are mainly goods in transit from and to Finnish harbours.
Transit transport by sea
In the statistics on transit transport via Finland, transit transport by sea describes the volume of transit transports arriving at Finnish ports and departing from them by sea.
Institutional mandate (SIMS 6)
The compilation of statistics is guided by the Statistics Act. The Statistics Act contains provisions on collection of data, processing of data and the obligation to provide data. Besides the Statistics Act, the General Data Protection Regulation, the Data Protection Act and the Act on the Openness of Government Activities are applied to processing of data when producing statistics.
Statistics Finland compiles statistics in line with the EU’s regulations applicable to statistics, which steer the statistical agencies of all EU Member States.
Further information: Statistical legislation
Quality assurance (SIMS 11.1)
Quality management requires comprehensive guidance of activities. The European Statistics Code of Practice forms the basis for the common quality system of the European Statistical System.
The Code of Practice is based on 16 principles that concern statistical authorities' independence, accountability and the quality of the processes and data to be published.
The principles are in line with the Fundamental Principles of Official Statistics approved by the United Nations Statistics Commission and are supplementary to them. The quality criteria of Official Statistics of Finland are compatible with the European Statistics Code of Practice.
Further information:
Release calendar (SIMS 8.1)
Statistics Finland publishes new statistical data at 8 am on weekdays in its web service. The release times of statistics are given in advance in the release calendar available in the web service. The data become public after they have been updated in the web service.
Further information: Publication principles for statistics at Statistics Finland
User access (SIMS 8.3)
The data are released to all users at the same time. Statistical data may be processed at Statistics Finland and information on them may be given before release only by persons involved in the production of the statistics concerned or who need the data of the statistics concerned in their own work before the data are published.
Further information: Publication principles for statistics
Unless otherwise specifically stated in connection with the product, data or service concerned, Statistics Finland is the producer and copyright owner of the data.
Further information: The terms of use for statistical data
Confidentiality - policy (SIMS 7.1)
The data protection of data collected for statistical purposes is guaranteed. The compilation of statistics is guided by the Statistics Act. Alongside the Statistics Act, the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (eur-lex.europa.eu) and the Finnish Data Protection Act (Finlex.fi) are applied to the processing of personal data. Provisions on the confidentiality of data collected for statistical purposes are laid down in the Act on the Openness of Government Activities (Finlex.fi).
The data are processed only by persons who need the data in their work. The use of data is restricted by usage rights. All persons employed by Statistics Finland have signed a pledge of secrecy, where they have obliged to keep secret the data prescribed as confidential by virtue of the Statistics Act or the Act on the Openness of Government Activities.
Further information: Data protection