EU: 2016/17 malt exports figures by Taxud differ from those by Eurostat

EU malt exports in 2016/17 were 2.34 mln tonnes as per Taxud statistics, but 2.47 mln tonnes as per Eurostat, H. M. Gauger GmbH reported early in September.

There are a few minor differences between the published figures, but major ones for two countries: Eurostat reports Danish exports 90,000 tonnes and German shipments 69,000 tonnes higher than Taxud. As per info from the industries, the Eurostat figures must be correct, the Gauger analysts said.

Both statistics almost agree on the Belgian export statistics (681 – 686,000 vs. 814,000 last year). Therefore Belgium alone would account for the lower EU exports of 130,000 tons, as all other countries reported very similar figures to their 2015/16 shipments. H. M. Gauger GmbH analysts said they cannot believe in such a solitary role of the major EU exporter and wonder about possible errors.

If former year’s Belgian and French exports were lower than reported, then this would render all statistics of the past years useless, H. M. Gauger GmbH’s reports warns. And also, as the Belgian customs authorities have always followed their own method of registering transit shipments through Belgian ports, therefore one cannot exclude new accounting errors, the analysts said.