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Why NOT to use trade statistics for gas trade
Many commentators intuitively turn to trade statistics to comment on the #embargo of oil and gas from 🇷🇺. With @CeciliaBellora and @PierreCotterlaz, we naturally did the same. But digging deeper we found problems. Here is why: a 🧵
Many commentators intuitively turn to trade statistics to comment on the #embargo of oil and gas from 🇷🇺. With @CeciliaBellora and @PierreCotterlaz, we naturally did the same. But digging deeper we found problems. Here is why: a 🧵
Looking at the main databases #COMTRADE, #COMEXT and #BACI, we first found that 🇩🇪 did not import any natural gas from 🇷🇺 in 2019. In fact, 🇩🇪 does not report any bilateral information on gas imports, only a total in Comtrade and no information at all in Comext.
We compared trade data to figures from Eurostat’s energy statistic, which is based on questionnaires filled by grid operators. We look at the 5 biggest gas importers (🇩🇪🇮🇹🇳🇱🇫🇷🇪🇸). Of our 5 countries 4 do not report imports from 🇷🇺. The problem exists for many countries in 🇪🇺 
