Trade data, explained by people who license it for a living.
“Trade data” covers everything from shipment-level customs declarations to aggregated annual statistics, and vendors profit from the confusion. This page separates the types, says plainly what each is good for, and gives you the six questions that expose any provider in one demo call. Including us.
The two kinds of trade data, and what each is for.
Shipment-level customs records
One row per declaration: importer, supplier, HS code, port, date, quantity, declared value. This is the operational layer: the one you build call lists, price benchmarks and supplier vetting from. It’s what our customs shipment data page dissects field by field, and what our import data and export data pages put to work.
Mirror-derived and statistical data
Where a country publishes no feed, its trade is reconstructed from partner countries’ records (mirror derivation) or reported only as aggregated statistics. Good for market sizing and lane trends; honest vendors label it clearly instead of folding it into one big country count. How we use it across 184 countries is on the global trade data page.
Six questions that expose any trade data provider.
Ask these on the demo call. We’ve put our own answers next to each one, because a checklist you’re afraid of is a confession.
01Does it name the buyer?
Country totals can’t be called. Ask which markets carry named importers and suppliers, and expect a straight number. Ours: 38 of 43 direct feeds.
02Can every figure be traced to a customs record?
If a number can’t point back to the declaration it came from, it’s an estimate wearing a suit. Traceability is the line between customs-grade and scraped.
03Is direct coverage separated from derived coverage?
Every vendor blends licensed feeds with mirror derivation. The honest ones label which is which on every answer. Walk away from a single unexplained country count.
04Is the pricing published?
A provider that hides pricing behind “contact sales” is planning to price you by your desperation. Ours is on the site: $1,100 / 6 months, $1,799 / 12.
05Will they demo on YOUR data?
A canned walkthrough proves the software runs. A live search on your HS code and markets proves the data covers you. Accept nothing less before paying.
06How often does it refresh, per surface?
A buyer who imported monthly can go quiet in 90 days. Daily-refreshed feeds with a visible refresh date per surface keep your call list warm, not archival.
Test the foundations free, before any demo.
The reference layers under our trade data are open to everyone: all 5,613 WCO codes in the HS Code Directory, plain-language lookup in the HS Classifier, duty estimates in the Landed Cost Calculator, and 38,000+ restricted parties in Sanctions Screening.
Trade data, asked and answered.
What is trade data?
Trade data is the documentary trail of goods crossing borders. At its most useful it is shipment-level customs records: importer, supplier, HS code, port, date, quantity, declared value. At its most aggregated it is national statistics. The first kind builds call lists and price benchmarks; the second sizes markets.
What is trade data used for?
Exporters use it to find the importers actively buying their HS code and to benchmark competitor prices. Importers use it to vet suppliers by their real shipping record and negotiate from declared values. Logistics teams use it to map lanes and pitch the shippers who actually ship.
What’s the difference between trade data and trade statistics?
Statistics are totals: country X exported $2B of Y last year. Trade data at shipment level is records: this company shipped this quantity to this named buyer at this declared value on this date. You cannot contact a total.
How do I choose a trade data provider?
Use the six questions on this page: named buyers (which markets, exactly), traceability to the customs record, direct vs derived coverage labeled, published pricing, a demo on your own data, and per-surface refresh dates. Any vendor who dodges two of the six is telling you something.
How much does trade data cost?
With EximDataX: $1,100 for 6 months or $1,799 for 12 months of platform access, published openly. A dedicated Trade Desk specialist who works the data for you is $300/month. The 30-minute live demo on your HS code costs nothing.
See what your buyers are buying.
Then decide.
30 minutes. Your shipment. Your HS code. Real platform. If you don’t see something new about your market by the end of the call, we walk away. No follow-ups.