Find buyers and suppliers with shipment data

Finding importers for your product

1. Get records for your HS code in the country you want to sell to.
2. Sort by importer and add up the shipments. This gives you the active buyers.
3. Remove freight forwarders and agents.
4. Check which countries they buy from. If you're from the same region, your offer will be easier to place.
5. Look at unit value to see whether your price can compete.

Finding reliable suppliers

1. Get export records for your HS code from the country you want to buy from.
2. Look for exporters that ship regularly, not once or twice.
3. See who they sell to. A supplier shipping to well-known buyers in strict markets is a good sign.
4. Compare unit values across suppliers before you ask for quotes.

Shipment history doesn't replace your own checks. Always verify a new supplier and ask for product samples before paying.

Researching a competitor

Search by company name to see what a competitor ships, its main customers or suppliers, the ports it uses and how volume changes over time. Records go back up to 5 years where available.

A real example

A client asked me for sourcing data on a company, including what it paid. The records showed enough for them to secure potatoes and other vegetables at reasonable prices.

For Amazon and online sellers, the same approach shows which factories supply a product category, and who to contact first. See how to find your HS code.