{"id":18224,"date":"2026-05-05T11:37:33","date_gmt":"2026-05-05T03:37:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tradeint.com\/insights\/?p=18224"},"modified":"2026-05-05T18:58:10","modified_gmt":"2026-05-05T10:58:10","slug":"what-is-global-trade-data","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tradeint.com\/insights\/what-is-global-trade-data\/","title":{"rendered":"What is Global Trade Data? Definition, sources, sample data"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"18224\" class=\"elementor elementor-18224\" data-elementor-post-type=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-eda1047 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"eda1047\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-458aa57 elementor-widget elementor-widget-html\" data-id=\"458aa57\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"html.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"ti-article-wrap\" style=\"font-family:Poppins,Arial,sans-serif;color:#222;line-height:1.8;word-break:break-word;overflow-wrap:anywhere;\">\r\n\r\n<h2 style=\"font-size:24px;font-weight:700;margin:34px 0 18px 0;color:#111;\">What is global trade data?<\/h2>\r\n\r\n<p style=\"margin:0 0 18px 0;\">Global trade data sits in three layers, and confusing them is the most common mistake teams make.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<ul style=\"margin:0 0 22px 22px;padding:0;color:#222;\">\r\n  <li style=\"margin:0 0 10px 0;color:#222;\"><strong>Macro aggregates<\/strong> \u2014 country-by-country totals of imports and exports, often broken down by Harmonized System (HS) code. Published by intergovernmental bodies. Best for sizing markets and tracking trends.<\/li>\r\n  <li style=\"margin:0 0 10px 0;color:#222;\"><strong>Customs records<\/strong> \u2014 line-item filings from national customs authorities. Mid-granularity. Available for some countries publicly, others through commercial platforms.<\/li>\r\n  <li style=\"margin:0 0 10px 0;color:#222;\"><strong>Bill-of-lading (BOL) records<\/strong> \u2014 shipment-level import export data showing the shipper, consignee, port, product description, and quantity. Highest granularity. Best for finding specific buyers, suppliers, and competitor activity.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n\r\n<p style=\"margin:0 0 18px 0;\">\r\n  <img decoding=\"async\" \r\n    src=\"https:\/\/tradeint.com\/insights\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/What-is-Global-Trade-Data__LI-Article.webp\"\r\n    alt=\"Global trade data dashboard with import export data, trade data visualizations, shipping routes, and commodity flow analysis\"\r\n    style=\"max-width:100%;height:auto;\"\r\n  \/>\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p style=\"margin:0 0 18px 0;\">Global trade data is the structured record of goods and services moving between countries \u2014 what was shipped, by whom, to whom, in what quantity, at what value. In 2025, world trade in goods and commercial services reached an estimated US$34.65 trillion, <a href=\"https:\/\/unctad.org\/publication\/global-trade-update-december-2025-global-trade-poised-record-breaking-2025-flows\" style=\"color:#0456cc;text-decoration:underline;\">according to UNCTAD<\/a>. Behind that headline number sits a layered ecosystem of import export databases, customs filings, and shipment records that most teams never fully map. This guide walks through the layers, the sources, and a decision framework for choosing the right one for your question.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p style=\"margin:0 0 18px 0;\">A second nuance: &quot;global&quot; rarely means <em>every<\/em> country. Coverage depth depends on each country&#x27;s customs disclosure policy and privacy law. Some countries publish near-monthly; others lag six months or more; some don&#x27;t publish firm-level data at all.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<!-- Combined TradeInt Header + Consultation Block (SAFE VERSION) -->\r\n<div style=\"font-family:Poppins, sans-serif; max-width:800px; margin:20px 0;\">\r\n\r\n  <!-- Top Logo + Plan Checks Bar -->\r\n  <div style=\"background:#f4f8ff; padding:12px 16px; border-radius:6px; margin-bottom:20px;\">\r\n    <div style=\"display:flex; align-items:center; flex-wrap:wrap;\">\r\n      <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/tradeint.com\/insights\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Finalised.png\"\r\n           style=\"height:26px; margin-right:14px;\" alt=\"TradeInt Logo\">\r\n      <div style=\"font-size:12px; color:#020814;\">\r\n        \u2714 Lite &nbsp; \u2714 Pro &nbsp; \u2714 Premium &nbsp; \u2714 Enterprise\r\n      <\/div>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n  <\/div>\r\n\r\n  <!-- Consultation Card -->\r\n  <div style=\"background:#ffffff; padding:12px; border-radius:8px; border:1px solid #e5e5e5;\r\n              box-shadow:0 2px 6px rgba(0,0,0,0.05);\">\r\n\r\n    <h3 style=\"margin:0 0 15px 0; font-size:16px; font-weight:700; color:#020814;\">\r\n      Access 200+ Global Country Import-Export Data\r\n    <\/h3>\r\n\r\n    <p style=\"margin:0 0 16px 0; font-size:14px; color:#333; line-height:1.6;\">\r\n      Real business strategy starts with real data. Learn how to leverage verified shipping data to map market demand, size competitors, and uncover hidden customer relationships.\r\n    <\/p>\r\n\r\n    <!-- \u2705 Button Grid (NO TABLES) -->\r\n    <div style=\"display:flex; flex-wrap:wrap; gap:10px;\">\r\n\r\n      <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tradeint.com\/product\/countries-covered\/asia-import-export-trade-data\/turkey-trade-data\/?utm_source=blog_article_countrycard&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=seo_organic_card\"\r\n         style=\"flex:1 1 48%; background:#1a73e8; color:#fff; padding:12px 0;\r\n                border-radius:6px; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; font-size:13px; font-weight:600;\">\r\n        Turkey Trade Data\r\n      <\/a>\r\n\r\n      <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tradeint.com\/product\/countries-covered\/asia-import-export-trade-data\/malaysia-trade-data\/?utm_source=blog_article_countrycard&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=seo_organic_card\"\r\n         style=\"flex:1 1 48%; background:#1a73e8; color:#fff; padding:12px 0;\r\n                border-radius:6px; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; font-size:13px; font-weight:600;\">\r\n        Malaysia Trade Data\r\n      <\/a>\r\n\r\n      <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tradeint.com\/product\/countries-covered\/asia-import-export-trade-data\/indonesia-trade-data\/?utm_source=blog_article_countrycard&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=seo_organic_card\"\r\n         style=\"flex:1 1 48%; background:#1a73e8; color:#fff; padding:12px 0;\r\n                border-radius:6px; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; font-size:13px; font-weight:600;\">\r\n        Indonesia Trade Data\r\n      <\/a>\r\n\r\n      <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tradeint.com\/product\/countries-covered\/asia-import-export-trade-data\/vietnam-trade-data\/?utm_source=blog_article_countrycard&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=seo_organic_card\"\r\n         style=\"flex:1 1 48%; background:#1a73e8; color:#fff; padding:12px 0;\r\n                border-radius:6px; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; font-size:13px; font-weight:600;\">\r\n        Vietnam Trade Data\r\n      <\/a>\r\n\r\n      <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tradeint.com\/product\/countries-covered\/south-america-import-export-trade-data\/brazil-trade-data\/?utm_source=blog_article_countrycard&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=seo_organic_card\"\r\n         style=\"flex:1 1 48%; background:#1a73e8; color:#fff; padding:12px 0;\r\n                border-radius:6px; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; font-size:13px; font-weight:600;\">\r\n        Brazil Trade Data\r\n      <\/a>\r\n\r\n      <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tradeint.com\/product\/countries-covered\/north-america-import-export-trade-data\/mexico-trade-data\/?utm_source=blog_article_countrycard&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=seo_organic_card\"\r\n         style=\"flex:1 1 48%; background:#1a73e8; color:#fff; padding:12px 0;\r\n                border-radius:6px; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; font-size:13px; font-weight:600;\">\r\n        Mexico Trade Data\r\n      <\/a>\r\n\r\n      <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tradeint.com\/product\/countries-covered\/africa-import-export-trade-data\/south-africa-trade-data\/?utm_source=blog_article_countrycard&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=seo_organic_card\"\r\n         style=\"flex:1 1 48%; background:#1a73e8; color:#fff; padding:12px 0;\r\n                border-radius:6px; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; font-size:13px; font-weight:600;\">\r\n        South Africa Data\r\n      <\/a>\r\n\r\n      <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tradeint.com\/product\/countries-covered\/asia-import-export-trade-data\/china-trade-data\/?utm_source=blog_article_countrycard&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=seo_organic_card\"\r\n         style=\"flex:1 1 48%; background:#1a73e8; color:#fff; padding:12px 0;\r\n                border-radius:6px; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; font-size:13px; font-weight:600;\">\r\n        China Trade Data\r\n      <\/a>\r\n\r\n    <\/div>\r\n  <\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n<h2 style=\"font-size:24px;font-weight:700;margin:34px 0 18px 0;color:#111;\">Where does global trade data come from?<\/h2>\r\n\r\n<p style=\"margin:0 0 18px 0;\">There are three categories of sources. Each answers different questions.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<ol style=\"margin:0 0 22px 22px;padding:0;color:#222;\">\r\n  <li style=\"margin:0 0 10px 0;color:#222;\"><strong>Government and intergovernmental bodies.<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/comtrade.un.org\/\" style=\"color:#0456cc;text-decoration:underline;\">UN Comtrade<\/a>, the <a href=\"https:\/\/wto.org\/statistics\" style=\"color:#0456cc;text-decoration:underline;\">WTO<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/wits.worldbank.org\/\" style=\"color:#0456cc;text-decoration:underline;\">World Bank WITS<\/a>, the <a href=\"https:\/\/data.imf.org\/en\/datasets\/IMF.STA:IMTS\" style=\"color:#0456cc;text-decoration:underline;\">IMF<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/ec.europa.eu\/eurostat\" style=\"color:#0456cc;text-decoration:underline;\">Eurostat<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.trademap.org\/\" style=\"color:#0456cc;text-decoration:underline;\">Trade Map<\/a> cover macro flows for 200+ countries with HS-level detail. Free or low-cost, authoritative, but mostly aggregate and lagging.<\/li>\r\n  <li style=\"margin:0 0 10px 0;color:#222;\"><strong>National customs authorities.<\/strong> Each country runs its own customs disclosure schedule. The U.S. published through <a href=\"https:\/\/dataweb.usitc.gov\/\" style=\"color:#0456cc;text-decoration:underline;\">DataWeb<\/a> and CBP. The EU consolidates through Eurostat. Vietnam, India, China, and others release through national portals on different cadences.<\/li>\r\n  <li style=\"margin:0 0 10px 0;color:#222;\"><strong>Commercial bill-of-lading platforms.<\/strong> Aggregate shipment-level filings (often originating from CBP and other customs releases) into searchable import export databases. Useful when you need to identify a specific importer or supplier, questions that the macro layer cannot answer.<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n\r\n<iframe width=\"560\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/NokMLIcp1vw?si=e8hZPkVZMpaGq4si\" title=\"YouTube video player\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\r\n\r\n<h3 style=\"font-size:20px;font-weight:700;margin:28px 0 14px 0;color:#111;\">How to choose the right trade data sources for your business questions?<\/h3>\r\n\r\n<p style=\"margin:0 0 18px 0;\">Match the question to the layer:<\/p>\r\n\r\n<div style=\"max-width:1300px;width:100%;margin:24px auto;background:#ffffff;border-radius:12px;box-shadow:0 2px 6px rgba(0,0,0,0.1);font-family:Poppins,Arial,sans-serif;overflow:hidden;box-sizing:border-box;\">\r\n  <div class=\"ti-table-wrap\" style=\"width:100%;overflow-x:auto;-webkit-overflow-scrolling:touch;box-sizing:border-box;\">\r\n    <table style=\"width:100%;min-width:600px;border-collapse:collapse;border:1px solid #a6a6a6;font-size:14px;text-align:center;table-layout:fixed;box-sizing:border-box;\">\r\n      <colgroup>\r\n          <col style=\"width:44.78%;\"\/>\r\n          <col style=\"width:22.19%;\"\/>\r\n          <col style=\"width:33.02%;\"\/>\r\n      <\/colgroup>\r\n      <thead style=\"background:#e6e6e6;\">\r\n        <tr>\r\n            <th style=\"border:1px solid #a6a6a6;padding:10px;vertical-align:middle;font-weight:700;\">Your question<\/th>\r\n            <th style=\"border:1px solid #a6a6a6;padding:10px;vertical-align:middle;font-weight:700;\">Use this layer<\/th>\r\n            <th style=\"border:1px solid #a6a6a6;padding:10px;vertical-align:middle;font-weight:700;\">Example sources<\/th>\r\n        <\/tr>\r\n      <\/thead>\r\n      <tbody>\r\n          <tr><td style=\"border:1px solid #a6a6a6;padding:10px;vertical-align:middle;word-break:break-word;overflow-wrap:anywhere;\">&quot;How big is the market for product X in country Y?&quot;<\/td><td style=\"border:1px solid #a6a6a6;padding:10px;vertical-align:middle;word-break:break-word;overflow-wrap:anywhere;\">Macro<\/td><td style=\"border:1px solid #a6a6a6;padding:10px;vertical-align:middle;word-break:break-word;overflow-wrap:anywhere;\">UN Comtrade, Trade Map, WITS<\/td><\/tr>\r\n          <tr><td style=\"border:1px solid #a6a6a6;padding:10px;vertical-align:middle;word-break:break-word;overflow-wrap:anywhere;\">&quot;Which companies are importing product X into country Y?&quot;<\/td><td style=\"border:1px solid #a6a6a6;padding:10px;vertical-align:middle;word-break:break-word;overflow-wrap:anywhere;\">Bill-of-lading<\/td><td style=\"border:1px solid #a6a6a6;padding:10px;vertical-align:middle;word-break:break-word;overflow-wrap:anywhere;\">Commercial trade-data platforms<\/td><\/tr>\r\n          <tr><td style=\"border:1px solid #a6a6a6;padding:10px;vertical-align:middle;word-break:break-word;overflow-wrap:anywhere;\">&quot;How are tariffs and policies affecting flows?&quot;<\/td><td style=\"border:1px solid #a6a6a6;padding:10px;vertical-align:middle;word-break:break-word;overflow-wrap:anywhere;\">IGO + customs<\/td><td style=\"border:1px solid #a6a6a6;padding:10px;vertical-align:middle;word-break:break-word;overflow-wrap:anywhere;\">WTO, WITS, national customs<\/td><\/tr>\r\n          <tr><td style=\"border:1px solid #a6a6a6;padding:10px;vertical-align:middle;word-break:break-word;overflow-wrap:anywhere;\">&quot;Who is my competitor selling to?&quot;<\/td><td style=\"border:1px solid #a6a6a6;padding:10px;vertical-align:middle;word-break:break-word;overflow-wrap:anywhere;\">Bill-of-lading<\/td><td style=\"border:1px solid #a6a6a6;padding:10px;vertical-align:middle;word-break:break-word;overflow-wrap:anywhere;\">Commercial trade-data platforms<\/td><\/tr>\r\n          <tr><td style=\"border:1px solid #a6a6a6;padding:10px;vertical-align:middle;word-break:break-word;overflow-wrap:anywhere;\">&quot;Is this supplier real, and how active are they?&quot;<\/td><td style=\"border:1px solid #a6a6a6;padding:10px;vertical-align:middle;word-break:break-word;overflow-wrap:anywhere;\">Bill-of-lading<\/td><td style=\"border:1px solid #a6a6a6;padding:10px;vertical-align:middle;word-break:break-word;overflow-wrap:anywhere;\">Commercial trade-data platforms<\/td><\/tr>\r\n      <\/tbody>\r\n    <\/table>\r\n  <\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n<p style=\"margin:0 0 18px 0;\">The wrong layer wastes hours. Macro import export data will never tell you who shipped 12 containers of arabica beans to Ho Chi Minh City last month. Bill-of-lading data will never give you a clean five-year tariff trend.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<div style=\"font-family:Poppins,Arial,sans-serif;max-width:800px;margin:24px auto;\">\r\n  <div style=\"background:#f4f8ff;padding:14px 20px;border-radius:6px;margin-bottom:16px;display:flex;align-items:center;flex-wrap:wrap;\">\r\n    <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/tradeint.com\/insights\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Finalised.png\" alt=\"TradeInt logo\" style=\"height:26px;margin-right:14px;\"\/>\r\n    <span style=\"font-size:12px;color:#020814;\">\u2714 Lite &nbsp;&nbsp;\u2714 Pro &nbsp;&nbsp;\u2714 Premium &nbsp;&nbsp;\u2714 Enterprise<\/span>\r\n  <\/div>\r\n  <div style=\"background:#ffffff;padding:24px;border-radius:10px;border:1px solid #e5e5e5;box-shadow:0 2px 6px rgba(0,0,0,0.05);\">\r\n    <style=\"margin:0 0 10px 0;font-size:16px;font-weight:600;color:#020814;line-height:1.4;\"><strong>\ud83d\udcca TradeInt Best Practices and Tips<\/strong>\r\n    <p style=\"margin:0 0 16px 0;font-size:14px;color:#333;line-height:1.6;\">For a broader, data-backed comparison, explore our in-depth guide to the world\u2019s top trade intelligence platforms, including UN Comtrade, ITC Trade Map, and World Integrated Trade Solution (WITS), which collectively aggregate millions of official customs records and global trade statistics to support accurate market analysis and sourcing decisions.<br><br>\ud83d\udca1Read more: <a href=\"https:\/\/tradeint.com\/insights\/top-6-best-trade-data-platforms-comparison\/\" style=\"color:#0456cc;text-decoration:underline;\">Top 6 Best Trade Data Platforms Comparison 2026<\/a><\/p>\r\n  <\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n<h2 style=\"font-size:24px;font-weight:700;margin:34px 0 18px 0;color:#111;\">Reading the numbers: HS codes, trade data freshness, global trade data coverage by country<\/h2>\r\n\r\n<p style=\"margin:0 0 18px 0;\">Three details quietly decide whether the global trade data is usable.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<ol style=\"margin:0 0 22px 22px;padding:0;color:#222;\">\r\n  <li style=\"margin:0 0 10px 0;color:#222;\"><strong>HS codes.<\/strong> The Harmonized System is a six-digit international product classification (extended to 8\u201310 digits at the country level). HS 0901 is coffee; 0901.21 is roasted coffee, not decaffeinated; 0901.21.0010 (in the U.S. tariff schedule) is a finer cut. Knowing the right code is half the job.<\/li>\r\n  <li style=\"margin:0 0 10px 0;color:#222;\"><strong>Freshness.<\/strong> &quot;Monthly&quot; is the gold standard for customs and shipment data; quarterly and annual are typical for macro aggregates. Country-level differences can be six months or more. Always check the trade data release schedule before drawing trend lines.<\/li>\r\n  <li style=\"margin:0 0 10px 0;color:#222;\"><strong>Country Trade Data Coverage.<\/strong> &quot;200+ countries&quot; is a marketing line, not a quality metric. Trade data depth refers to how many years, how granular per country, whether firm names are present, and whether they ask any vendor.<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n\r\n<h3 style=\"font-size:20px;font-weight:700;margin:28px 0 14px 0;color:#111;\">A worked example: tracking coffee imports into Vietnam with verified import export data<\/h3>\r\n\r\n<p style=\"margin:0 0 18px 0;\">Say you sell green coffee and want a list of active Vietnamese buyers.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<ol style=\"margin:0 0 22px 22px;padding:0;color:#222;\">\r\n  <li style=\"margin:0 0 10px 0;color:#222;\"><strong>Pick the layer.<\/strong> You need importer names, which should come from a bill of lading. Macro sources won&#x27;t help.<\/li>\r\n  <li style=\"margin:0 0 10px 0;color:#222;\"><strong>Pull the records.<\/strong> Filter by HS 0901 (coffee, not roasted) and destination Vietnam over the last 12 months. Capture importer name, shipment count, and origin port.<\/li>\r\n  <li style=\"margin:0 0 10px 0;color:#222;\"><strong>Validate.<\/strong> Cross-check the macro picture in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.trademap.org\/\" style=\"color:#0456cc;text-decoration:underline;\">Trade Map<\/a> or <a href=\"https:\/\/comtrade.un.org\/\" style=\"color:#0456cc;text-decoration:underline;\">UN Comtrade<\/a>: does Vietnam&#x27;s reported coffee import volume align with the shipment-level totals? If not, investigate whether you&#x27;re missing a port or HS sub-code.<\/li>\r\n  <li style=\"margin:0 0 10px 0;color:#222;\"><strong>Act.<\/strong> Rank importers by frequency and recent activity, qualify with company background, and contact the top 10\u201320.<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n\r\n<h2 style=\"font-size:24px;font-weight:700;margin:34px 0 18px 0;color:#111;\">Common pitfalls when using global trade data<\/h2>\r\n\r\n<p style=\"margin:0 0 18px 0;\">A few traps to avoid:<\/p>\r\n\r\n<ul style=\"margin:0 0 22px 22px;padding:0;color:#222;\">\r\n  <li style=\"margin:0 0 10px 0;color:#222;\"><strong>Self-reporting gaps.<\/strong> Country A&#x27;s exports to Country B and Country B&#x27;s imports from Country A often don&#x27;t match. The gap is normal, not a bug; it reflects different valuation methods (FOB vs. CIF) and reporting lags.<\/li>\r\n  <li style=\"margin:0 0 10px 0;color:#222;\"><strong>Shipment value vs. goods value.<\/strong> A bill-of-lading value can include freight and insurance; a customs valuation may not. Don&#x27;t compare them as if they&#x27;re the same number.<\/li>\r\n  <li style=\"margin:0 0 10px 0;color:#222;\"><strong>The &quot;billions of records&quot; trap.<\/strong> Record count is not coverage. A platform with 5B records might still be missing the country or HS chapter you care about. Always test with your own use case with a free trial before subscribing.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n\r\n<h2 style=\"font-size:24px;font-weight:700;margin:34px 0 18px 0;color:#111;\">Where TradeInt fits<\/h2>\r\n\r\n<p style=\"margin:0 0 18px 0;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tradeint.com\/\" style=\"color:#0456cc;text-decoration:underline;\">TradeInt<\/a> is an AI-powered global trade intelligence platform that aggregates customs records, shipping data, and verified company profiles across 200+ countries, with full or partial customs data for 90+ of those countries. The platform is designed for non-technical users who need to find buyers, evaluate markets, and monitor competitor activity without a data analyst background. Coverage and data-type detail vary by country and subscription tier. See the live coverage matrix offered by official TradeInt here:<strong> <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tradeint.com\/product\/countries-covered\/?utm_source=blog_article\" style=\"color:#0456cc;text-decoration:underline;\"><strong>TradeInt 200+ Global Country Trade Data Coverage<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\r\n\r\n<div style=\"font-family:Poppins,Arial,sans-serif;max-width:800px;margin:24px auto;\">\r\n  <div style=\"background:#f4f8ff;padding:14px 20px;border-radius:6px;margin-bottom:16px;display:flex;align-items:center;flex-wrap:wrap;\">\r\n    <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/tradeint.com\/insights\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Finalised.png\" alt=\"TradeInt logo\" style=\"height:26px;margin-right:14px;\"\/>\r\n    <span style=\"font-size:12px;color:#020814;\">\u2714 Lite &nbsp;&nbsp;\u2714 Pro &nbsp;&nbsp;\u2714 Premium &nbsp;&nbsp;\u2714 Enterprise<\/span>\r\n  <\/div>\r\n  <div style=\"background:#ffffff;padding:24px;border-radius:10px;border:1px solid #e5e5e5;box-shadow:0 2px 6px rgba(0,0,0,0.05);\">\r\n    <style=\"margin:0 0 10px 0;font-size:16px;font-weight:600;color:#020814;line-height:1.4;\"><strong>\ud83d\udcca TradeInt Best Practices and Tips<\/strong>\r\n    <p style=\"margin:0 0 16px 0;font-size:14px;color:#333;line-height:1.6;\">To see how TradeInt transforms raw global trade data into actionable import export insights, explore our full platform overview and discover how businesses leverage verified trade data for smarter sourcing and market expansion.<br\/><br\/>\ud83d\udca1Read more: <a href=\"https:\/\/tradeint.com\/insights\/what-is-tradeint-company-overview-features-pricing-use-cases\/\" style=\"color:#0456cc;text-decoration:underline;\">What is TradeInt? Company Overview, Features, Pricing, Use Cases<\/a><\/p>\r\n  <\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n<p style=\"margin:0 0 18px 0;\"> <\/p>\r\n\r\n<h2 style=\"font-size:24px;font-weight:700;margin:34px 0 18px 0;color:#111;\">FAQs about Global Trade Data<\/h2>\r\n\r\n<ol style=\"margin:0 0 22px 22px;padding:0;color:#222;\">\r\n  <style=\"margin:0 0 10px 0;color:#222;\"><strong>What&#x27;s the difference between customs data and shipping data?<\/strong>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n\r\n<p style=\"margin:0 0 18px 0;\">Customs data covers product, HS code, value, and quantity declared to a customs authority. Shipping data covers the logistics layer: vessels, routes, ports, and container details. Bill-of-lading trade records typically contain both.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<ol style=\"margin:0 0 22px 22px;padding:0;color:#222;\">\r\n  <style=\"margin:0 0 10px 0;color:#222;\"><strong>What is a bill of lading<\/strong>,<strong> and why does it matter for trade data?<\/strong>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n\r\n<p style=\"margin:0 0 18px 0;\">A bill of lading is the carrier&#x27;s receipt for goods being shipped. When customs authorities (notably U.S. CBP) release these filings, they become a primary source for shipment-level import export data, including importer and exporter names.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<ol style=\"margin:0 0 22px 22px;padding:0;color:#222;\">\r\n  <tyle=\"margin:0 0 10px 0;color:#222;\"><strong>How current is global trade data?<\/strong>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n\r\n<p style=\"margin:0 0 18px 0;\">Macro aggregates from IGOs typically lag by one to six months. Customs records range from weekly (U.S.) to monthly (most countries) to multi-month delays. Real-time global trade data does not exist at scale; &quot;near real-time&quot; usually means a few days behind for select countries.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p style=\"margin:0 0 18px 0;\">Need the latest country trade data for your business needs? <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tradeint.com\/contact-experts\/?utm_source=blog_article&amp;utm_content=global_trade_data\" style=\"color:#0456cc;text-decoration:underline;\">Contact our trade specialist<\/a> to get a free consultation.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<ol style=\"margin:0 0 22px 22px;padding:0;color:#222;\">\r\n  <style=\"margin:0 0 10px 0;color:#222;\"><strong>Which countries publish global trade data?<\/strong>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n\r\n<p style=\"margin:0 0 18px 0;\">Around 200 countries report some form of macro trade data to UN Comtrade and the WTO. Roughly 90 countries release granular customs or bill-of-lading data accessible through commercial platforms; the rest restrict firm-level data due to privacy or regulatory policy.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<ol style=\"margin:0 0 22px 22px;padding:0;color:#222;\">\r\n  <style=\"margin:0 0 10px 0;color:#222;\"><strong>What is the best source of global trade data?<\/strong>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n\r\n<p style=\"margin:0 0 18px 0;\">It depends on the use case. For market sizing and trend analysis, IGO macro sources (UN Comtrade, WTO, Trade Map) are authoritative and free. For finding buyers, suppliers, or tracking competitors, bill-of-lading platforms are the right layer. For policy and tariff analysis, WITS combined with national customs is hard to beat. There is no single best source, only the right source for the question.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p style=\"margin:0 0 18px 0;\">Looking for specific country trade data? <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tradeint.com\/contact-experts\/?utm_source=blog_article&amp;utm_content=global_trade_data\" style=\"color:#0456cc;text-decoration:underline;\">Contact our trade specialist<\/a> to get a free consultation.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n<p style=\"margin:0 0 18px 0;color:#a6a6a6;\"><em>**Last modified: 2026-05-04. Sources cited above are public, authoritative, and link directly to the original portals. 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