Sourcing and procurement teams use data to find new suppliers, compare landed costs across countries and negotiate with evidence. Trade data shows who actually ships what, rather than who claims to.
Import and export data reveals which companies trade a product, at what volumes and between which countries, either shipment by shipment or as aggregated statistics. Customs data adds declared values and HS codes where national rules allow publication, which helps benchmark unit prices. Tariff data gives the duty rates, trade agreement preferences and classifications that turn a supplier quote into a true landed cost.
A typical workflow
- Classify the product with the right HS code.
- Find exporters with a track record in that code and destination.
- Compare declared unit values and volumes across origins.
- Add duties, preferences and freight to compare landed costs.
What to check before you buy
Confirm which countries are covered and whether party names are included, since this depends on each country's rules. Some jurisdictions, including India, restrict publication of shipment-level party data. Check HS granularity, update lag and how company names are matched across records.