External trade

Statistical sources

Statistics on Norway's external trade date back to 1835. In the period from 1835 to 1865, the statistics provided figures for quantities only. Value figures go back to 1866. These figures were not based on actual returns specifying the exact value of the goods, but calculated on the basis of average prices.

Complete declaration records of FOB export values started in 1922 and CIF import values were introduced in 1932. After the second World War the Customs and Statistical authorities collaborated to establish the international commodity nomenclature, BTN (Brussels nomenclature) which was introduced in 1959. The Single Administrative Document (SAD) was subsequently introduced by EEC/EFTA in 1988.

As from 1884 Statistics Norway published annual volumes including commodity groups, trade by country and port of clearance.

Norwegian-produced crude oil was exported for the first time in 1971. The customs authorities did not extend their customs area to include the Continental Shelf. Consequently, Statistics Norway never received declarations on imports and exports between the oil platforms offshore and other countries. This information was collected from the oil companies and the value calculations were based partly on British and German import statistics.

The statistics relating to ships, coal from Spitsbergen and electric power also had to be based on sources other than customs declarations.

Commodity classifications

In the years 1835-1865, statistics listed commodities in alphabetical order. In 1866, the commodities were systematically divided into 25 main groups which in turn were divided into subgroups. This classification remained more or less unchanged up to 1939. From 1939 through 1952 the "Minimum List of Commodities for International Trade Statistics" was used. In 1953 a new commodity classification was introduced in accordance with the United Nations "Standard International Trade Classification" SITC. This nomenclature has been revised three times: in 1961 (Rev.), in 1976 (Rev. 2) and in 1988 (Rev. 3).

This version of Historical Statistics shows commodities by SITC groups from 1960-1991. For the purpose of improved comparison, the SITC Rev. groups from 1960 to 1975 are converted to Rev. 2 in these tables. In the previous versions of Historical Statistics, however, the tables show more detailed commodity groups starting with the year 1866.

Indices

Statistics Norway has calculated indices for imports as from 1880. For the years 1880-1918 the volume figures have been calculated by deflating the value figures using Ruud's and Farmand's price indices. Since 1919 Statistics Norway has calculated volume index figures and, since 1920, also price index figures for exports and imports based on data from the external trade statistics. The base has been changed several times. The methods of calculation are described in Statistiske Meddelelser No. 12, 1949; No. 5, 1951; No. 5, 1953; No. 10, 1959; No. 1, 1965 and in Articles No. 57, 1973.

In this volume of Historical Statistics, indices are recalculated for many SITC Divisions starting with 1953. Revisions of the SITC made it impossible to recalculate all groups.

Development trends

In the nineteenth century, grain was the most important import commodity. Fish and timber were the major export commodities for many years. The industrial revolution resulted in imports and exports of new products for Norway. Textiles, mineral products, metals and machinery were brought into the country in increasing quantities and the export value of wood articles also increased.

Norway's external trade has been influenced by fluctuations in the international economy. The trade figures reflect the two different circumstances Norway faced during the first and second World Wars. After the last World War, trade increased and the annual average from 1946 to 1950 was twice the annual average from 1916 to 1920, and triple that of the last part of the thirties (figure 18.1). The growth in trade volume continued up to 1991 for imports as well as exports.

The trade deficit for traditional commodities increased, however, and reached an average of 51.6 billion kroner for 1986-1990. North Sea activities produced crude oil and natural gas for export and turned the trade deficit into a trade surplus for the first time in history. Including oil and gas exports, the trade balance for 1986-1990 showed an average surplus of 11.9 billion kroner.