People often use "trade data" as if it were one thing. In practice there are two main record types, and knowing which you need saves you time and money.
Bill of lading data
A bill of lading (B/L) is the shipping document a carrier issues for ocean freight. B/L data therefore centres on the physical movement: the shipper (exporter) and consignee (importer), the goods and HS code, the loading and discharge ports, the vessel, container numbers and weights. It is the richest source for supplier and buyer discovery, and for mapping logistics — lanes, ports and carriers.
Customs data
Customs data comes from the declarations filed with a country’s customs authority. It leans toward the commercial and regulatory side: declared values, duties and taxes, tax IDs, country of origin, and Incoterms where available. It is strongest for market sizing, pricing benchmarks and compliance research.
Which one?
- Finding suppliers or buyers → bill of lading data (contacts + volumes + lanes).
- Understanding value, duty and pricing → customs data.
- A complete picture → both, matched on company and HS code.
Our country datasets combine both where available, so you are not forced to choose blind. Browse by country to see what each market offers.
Put this into practice
Browse import export data for 200+ countries, or request a free sample for your market.