To produce TEC data, national statistical offices (NSOs) match data on international trade (usually customs data) with information on enterprises. This process, known as micro-data linking, involves identifying and merging records that pertain to the same entity (generally the enterprise) across different datasets. This integration enables a more nuanced analysis of international trade patterns, offering a perspective the type, size, economic activity, and other characteristics of businesses engaged in cross-border trade.
The TEC data are collected in co-operation with Eurostat and directly from NSOs.