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In March 2017, The Imf Published An Upgrade Of Its Direction Of Trade Statistics (dots) Dataset. This Paper Documents The New Methodology That Has Been Developed To Estimate Missing Observations Of Bilateral Trade Statistics On A Monthly Basis. The New Estimation Procedure Is Founded On A Benchmarking Method That Produces Monthly Estimates Based On Official Trade Statistics By Partner Country Reported At Different Times And Frequencies. In This Paper We Describe The New Estimation Methodology. Additional Data Sources Have Also Been Incorporated. We Also Assess The Impact Of The New Estimates On Trade Measurement In Dots At Global, Regional, And Country-specific Levels. Finally, We Suggest Some Developments Of Dots To Strenghten Its Relevance For Imf Bilateral And Multilateral Surveillance. Cover -- Contents -- I. Introduction -- Ii. Overview Of Dots -- Iii. New Methodology -- Source Data -- Estimation Procedure -- Other Changes -- Iv. Impact Of The New Estimates -- Global Trade -- Advanced Economies Vs Emerging And Developing Economies -- Trade Weights -- V. Conclusions And Way Forward -- References -- Figures -- Figure 1. Type Of Partner Countries In Dots -- Figure 2. Dots: Distribution Of Reported Data (monthly And Annual) And Estimated Data -- Figure 3. World Trade In Dots Obtained From Un Comtrade -- Figure 4. Revisions To World Exports And Imports -- Figure 5. Difference Between World Imports And World Exports -- Figure 6. Trade Balance Of Emerging And Developing Economies Vs. Advanced Economies -- Figure 7. Breakdown By Country Group Of Trade Balance Of Emerging And Developing Economies Vs. Advanced Economies -- Figure 8. Global Trade: Dots Vs Cpb World Trade Monitor -- Figure 9. Seasonal Adjustment Of World Exports -- Tables -- Table 1. Dots: Type Of Monthly Estimates -- Table 2. New Countries In Dots: Export Shares -- Table 3. New Countries In Dots: Import Shares -- Table 4. Countries With Largest Changes In Export Shares -- Table 5. Countries With Largest C