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What does free customs data include in English?

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Basic overview of customs data

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Customs data refers to the information collected by customs authorities when goods enter or leave a country. It usually includes details about the goods being traded such as product name, quantity, value, country of origin/destination etc. Customs authorities utilize this data for various purposes like collecting import/export duties, monitoring trade flows, detecting fraudulent activities etc.

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Key elements in free customs data

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While full customs records may contain confidential information and are not publicly available, there are many free data sources that contain some of the core elements:

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Product/Commodity Code

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This refers to the code number that classifies the goods being traded under different commodity classification standards like HS (Harmonized System), SITC etc. The codes provide information about the type of goods like chemicals, machinery, food items etc.

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Country of Origin/Destination

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The country from where the goods were consigned and country of final destination. This provides information about trading partners and flow of goods between countries.

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Traded Value

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The total Invoice value or Free on Board (FOB) value of the imported/exported goods. These values are useful to analyze trade volumes and values between countries/trading blocks.

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Traded Quantity

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The measurement quantity of the goods whether in Kg, Liters, Numbers etc. Combined with value data, it provides additional insights about productivity and demand.

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Sources of free public customs data

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While data availability and level of details may vary, some of the commonly used free public sources of customs trade data include:

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UN Comtrade Database

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Managed by UN Statistics Division, it contains bilateral trade statistics for around 200 countries and areas. Data can be downloaded via online queries for free.

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WITS – World Integrated Trade Solution

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A joint platform of World Bank and UN Comtrade, it provides user-friendly access to international and national trade data. Basic data downloads are free.

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National Customs Authority Websites

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Many countries like US, UK, China etc. publish aggregated trade statistics on products and country level on their customs authority websites for free public access.

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Limitations of free customs data

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While free public customs data is useful for preliminary analysis and research, it also has some limitations:

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Aggregation Level

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Data is usually available at harmonized system 2/4/6 digit code level which provides less granular analysis compared to confidential 8/10 digit level customs records.

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Timeliness

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There can be delays of 6-12 months in publication depending on country and database, which makes it unsuitable for real-time market analysis.

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Quality Issues

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As data comes from multiple country sources, there can be inconsistencies, errors or missing records requiring data cleansing.

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In conclusion

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Despite limitations, free public customs data serves as a valuable starting point for trade research, competitor analysis, market opportunity evaluation especially for low/middle income countries and sectors. With iterative improvements in coverage and timeliness, it will continue enhancing transparency in global trade.

常见问答(FQAS)

What is customs data?\n

Customs data refers to the information collected by customs authorities when goods enter or leave a country. It usually includes details about the goods being traded such as product name, quantity, value, country of origin/destination etc.

\n\nWhat are the key elements included in free customs data?\n

The key elements commonly included in free public customs data sources are product/commodity code, country of origin/destination, traded value, traded quantity.

\n\nWhere can I find free public customs data? \n

Some commonly used sources of free public customs data include the UN Comtrade Database, WITS platform of World Bank, national customs authority websites of countries like US, UK, China etc.

\n\nWhat are the limitations of free customs data?\n

Limitations include aggregation of data at higher HS code levels, time lags of 6-12 months in publication, and quality issues like inconsistencies or missing records between country sources.

\n\nHow can free customs data be useful?\n

Despite limitations, free public customs data can serve as a valuable starting point for trade research, competitor analysis, market opportunity evaluation especially for low/middle income countries and sectors.

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