Data enrichment and B2B data
How to find importers and suppliers with trade data
The short answer
Customs and shipment records list who shipped what to whom: the importer, the exporter, the product description or HS code, quantities and dates. Searching them by product shows which companies import it, from where and how often. Trade data platforms such as Volza compile these records across many countries into a searchable database.
Key takeaways
- Shipment records show importer, exporter, product, quantity, port and date where countries publish them.
- Search by HS code and several product descriptions; free text is messy.
- Free official statistics give country totals but no company names.
On this page 3 sections
What the records show
- Importer and exporter names (where the country publishes them).
- Product description and HS code.
- Quantity, weight and sometimes declared value.
- Ports, dates and shipping frequency.
Uses
- Prospecting: find companies that already import the product you sell.
- Sourcing: find the factories that supply your competitors.
- Market sizing: see import volumes into a country over time.
- Competitive intelligence: see a competitor's shipping volumes and suppliers.
Limits
Coverage varies by country: some publish full names, some only aggregated statistics. Companies can file under a freight forwarder's name or ask for confidentiality. Product descriptions are free text and messy, so search by HS code and by several descriptions.
Free official statistics such as UN Comtrade and the US Census trade data give country-level volumes but no company names.
Next step