Understanding U.S. Economic Trade Data: A Guide for Researchers

From Bills of Lading to Import and Export Records: The Foundation of U.S. Trade Research. 

Uncover how granular shipping data drives impactful research in international trade and economic analysis.

Economic trade data encompasses all goods and services entering, leaving, or being produced within a specific region, population, or industry. It provides the framework for analyzing global trade dynamics, industry performance, and country-level economic policies.

For researchers, trade data serves as a fundamental tool for comparing economies, studying trade relationships, and understanding global supply chains. Whether measuring a country’s trade deficit or surplus, or evaluating its dependence on specific commodities or trading partners, trade data is an essential resource for actionable insights.

Introduction to International Trade Data

International Trade Data

International trade data refers to the systematic collection of information on the movement of goods and services across borders. It captures key metrics such as import and export volumes, product categories (often classified by HS codes), trade values, and trading partners. This data provides critical insights for researchers analyzing economic globalization, trade policies, and market trends.

For U.S. researchers, international trade data serves as a basis for understanding global trade flows and the impact of tariffs, trade agreements, or global disruptions like pandemics on specific industries. Accessing high-quality data, such as U.S. import bill of ladings, allows academics to delve deeper into supply chain dependencies and evaluate the competitiveness of domestic industries in the international arena.

Global Trade Data Analysis

Global trade data analysis is the process of interpreting large datasets to uncover trends, patterns, and relationships in international trade. By leveraging tools like data visualization and statistical models, researchers can identify shifts in trade volumes, emerging markets, or changing trade dynamics due to geopolitical events.

For instance, analyzing U.S. import records provides insights into critical trends, such as the rise of Chinese exports to the U.S. or the effects of steel tariffs on import volumes. Researchers at leading institutions like Harvard and Purdue University use global trade data to answer pressing economic questions and contribute actionable insights for policymakers, businesses, and other stakeholders.

Trade Data and Analysis

Trade data and analysis form the backbone of academic research in international economics and supply chain management. This field goes beyond raw data collection, focusing on deriving meaningful insights to inform decisions and academic discourse. Researchers analyze trade flows to:

• Evaluate the efficiency of global supply chains.

• Quantify the effects of regulatory changes on specific commodities.

• Forecast future trade patterns based on historical data.

Kirchner’s U.S. Import Data, spanning over a decade, empowers researchers with the granular details required for such analysis. With information on shipment dates, exporters, importers, and detailed product descriptions, academics can build robust models to test hypotheses and publish findings in leading economic journals.

What is U.S. Trade Data?

U.S. trade data includes detailed records of all goods and services that flow in and out of the country. While services contribute significantly to the U.S. economy, trade in goods dominates the discussion, given its broader impact on manufacturing, jobs, and trade deficits.

United States Trade Overview

United States (USA) Exports, Imports, and Trade Partners

The United States is one of the largest trading nations globally, with a dynamic flow of exports and imports that shape its economy. U.S. exports typically include high-value goods like aircraft, machinery, and advanced technology, alongside services like financial consulting and intellectual property licensing. Imports are dominated by consumer electronics, vehicles, machinery, and raw materials.

Key Trade Partners of the USA

The U.S. has robust trade relationships with countries worldwide, with major partners including:

• Canada: A primary source of energy imports and one of the largest markets for U.S. goods.

• Mexico: Integrated supply chains across the automotive, electronics, and agricultural sectors make Mexico vital for U.S. trade.

• China: A key supplier of manufactured goods but also a focus of trade policy tensions, with significant deficits in goods trade.

• European Union: Partner in high-value goods and services, including pharmaceuticals, machinery, and financial services.

This complex web of trading relationships drives research into trade policy impacts, market dependencies, and global supply chain vulnerabilities. U.S. trade data is critical for understanding how these partnerships evolve over time.

What is the Trade Data Between the US and China?

Trade between the U.S. and China is one of the most analyzed economic relationships globally, often serving as a lens for studying trade deficits, global supply chains, and the effects of tariffs.

Key Facts about U.S.-China Trade

• Imports from China: The U.S. imports a significant volume of consumer electronics, machinery, and textiles from China. These imports form the backbone of the U.S. trade deficit with China.

• Exports to China: U.S. exports to China primarily consist of agricultural products like soybeans, aircraft, and high-tech goods.

• Trade Policy Impacts: Tariffs and trade agreements heavily influence this relationship. For example, the tariffs imposed during the U.S.-China trade war significantly affected the volume and structure of trade flows between the two nations.

Research Applications

• Policy Analysis: Understanding how tariffs and trade agreements reshape the flow of goods.

• Supply Chain Study: Tracking dependencies on Chinese manufacturing and identifying vulnerabilities in critical industries like semiconductors.

• Market Trends: Analyzing shifts in import/export volumes to predict future trade trends.

Kirchner’s U.S. trade data enables researchers to explore these dynamics in depth, offering granular insights into import and export trends across industries and regions.

Key Sources for U.S. Trade Data

International Trade Administration (Trade.gov)

• What It Offers:

• A government resource that provides tools and guides for U.S. businesses involved in international trade.

• Offers export guides, market research reports, and tools to help businesses expand globally.

• Includes country-specific trade information and tariff resources.

• What It Doesn’t Offer:

• Limited granularity: It focuses on guiding businesses rather than providing raw datasets.

• Does not provide bill-of-lading-level data or shipment-specific records for in-depth research.

International Trade Census (Census.gov)

• What It Offers:

• Official U.S. export and import statistics.

• Detailed data on trade flows, including product-level (HS codes) and country-level trade relationships.

• Monthly and annual summaries of U.S. trade activity.

• What It Doesn’t Offer:

• Aggregate data only: The platform does not offer granular details like individual transactions or shipment-specific data.

• Lacks information on exporters, importers, and other key shipment details available in bill-of-lading data.

DataWeb – International Trade Commission ITC (https://dataweb.usitc.gov)

• What It Offers:

• A user-friendly portal for tariff and trade data.

• Provides data by commodity, country, and industry classification.

• Offers trade balance statistics and the ability to create custom data queries.

• What It Doesn’t Offer:

• Does not include individual shipment records or address-level information.

• Limited to high-level trade trends, making it less suitable for supply chain analysis or in-depth regional studies.

U.S. International Trade in Goods and Services (BEA.gov)

• What It Offers:

• Comprehensive statistics on U.S. trade in goods and services.

• Data on the trade balance, imports, and exports, categorized by service type and industry.

• Quarterly and annual datasets for macroeconomic research.

• What It Doesn’t Offer:

• Focuses on services more than goods, with limited product-level detail.

• Does not include granular bill-of-lading data or detailed shipment records necessary for micro-level analysis.

United States Trade Statistics by WITS World Bank (wits.worldbank.org)

• What It Offers:

• A global perspective on trade statistics, allowing comparisons across countries.

• Access to tariff rates, trade policies, and trade flows at an aggregate level.

• Tools for economic modeling and international trade policy analysis.

• What It Doesn’t Offer:

• Not focused on U.S. import records specifically.

• Data lacks granularity, with no access to shipment-level or bill-of-lading-level records.

Kirchner’s Global Trade Tracker (Kirchnerdata.com)

• What It Offers:

• Comprehensive datasets of U.S. import records from 2014 to the present.

• Granular bill-of-lading-level data, including:

• Exporter and importer details with addresses.

• Shipment contents, HS codes, and product descriptions.

• Quantities, values, and dates for individual shipments.

• Tools for tracking product trends, analyzing regional trade flows, and assessing policy impacts.

• Data tailored specifically for academic research, enabling actionable insights and publications.

• What Sets Kirchner Apart:

• Unlike other sources, Kirchner records and provides individual shipment data, making it indispensable for micro-level research in economics, supply chain management, and trade policy.

• Researchers can explore regional dependencies, track tariff impacts, and uncover industry trends with unparalleled detail from trades into and from the USA.

Conclusion regarding US Trade Data Sources

While traditional sources like ITC, BEA, and Census.gov offer valuable aggregated trade statistics, they lack the granularity required for detailed academic research. Kirchnerdata fills this gap, providing one of the industry’s largest dataset of U.S. import records with shipment-level detail. This makes it the go-to resource for universities and researchers aiming to conduct impactful economic studies or supply chain analyses.

Ready to explore U.S. import data? Contact Kirchner today to access the most detailed trade dataset available.

Specialized U.S. Trade Data

Accessing specialized trade data is vital for researchers aiming to conduct in-depth analyses of global trade patterns, evaluate policy impacts, and track specific commodities or industries. Below, we explore key concepts in specialized trade data and how they relate to Kirchner’s offerings.

US Trade Dataset

The U.S. trade dataset encompasses detailed records of all imports and exports to and from the United States. It includes critical information such as trade values, product classifications (HS codes), and trading partners. This dataset is essential for analyzing trade flows, identifying industry trends, and studying the economic impact of trade policies.

Bills of Lading That Are Filed With U.S. Customs

Bills of lading (BOLs) are the foundation of trade data collection. These documents are completed for each shipment, containing detailed information about the exporter, importer, shipment contents, and transportation routes. Filed with U.S. Customs, they form the raw data source for understanding global trade at the shipment level.

This is an example of a BOL bill of lading:

US Customs Data Records

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) collects and verifies all bills of lading, ensuring compliance with regulations and accurate documentation of imports and exports. These records are indispensable for monitoring trade activity and maintaining trade statistics.

US Trade Database

Kirchner compiles multiple years of U.S. import and export records, creating a comprehensive trade database. This resource spans from 2014 to the present and includes millions of shipment records. Researchers can access data segmented by year, industry, or region, making it a powerful tool for in-depth economic analysis.

Kirchner

Kirchner specializes in providing import and export data on the bill-of-lading level for academic research. By offering the complete trade database as CSV files, researchers can internally query the data to address specific research questions. This allows researchers to focus on specific industries or regions in trade analysis, providing detailed insights beyond pre-aggregated statistics. With years of experience supporting universities like Purdue, Harvard, and the University of Illinois, Kirchner ensures researchers have the tools they need to generate impactful insights.

How does Kirchner Source Granular Bill-of-Lading-Level U.S. Import and Export Data for Research?

CBP Data Limitations

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) only provides access to partial datasets under specific inquiries, such as those filed by the press or through FOIA requests.

These datasets are typically limited in scope—for example, by industry (via HS codes), specific time frames, or geographic regions.

Additionally, raw data often requires extensive cleaning and aggregation to become usable for academic research.

Kirchner’s Comprehensive Approach

At Kirchner, we aggregate, clean, and structure U.S. import data from multiple reliable sources, including public records and proprietary partnerships.

This process provides researchers with a complete and actionable picture of U.S. import trends at a level of detail that CBP does not offer in its raw data.

Our dataset spans multiple years (2014–2024) and includes detailed information, such as import/export records, shipment descriptions, and regional trade flows.

Cost of Data Aggregation

Aggregating and processing this data to provide a full import picture can cost Kirchner between $25,000 and $35,000 per month in sourcing, cleaning, and technical infrastructure.

By offering this curated data to multiple research institutions, we can share the cost across users, making the data financially accessible for academic research.

Affordable Access for Researchers

Kirchner’s pricing model ensures that researchers benefit from high-quality, comprehensive trade data without bearing the significant costs of aggregation alone.

Our mission is to support financially feasible research that drives meaningful insights into global trade, supply chains, and economic policy.

How Trade Data is Classified

Kirchner’s Trade data is classified by column headers. There are 37 classifiers. Key trade data classifiers are HS Code, Country of Origin, and the Shipping Date. Other often used classifiers are Product Description, do narrow down the research to individual products, weight to standardize the quantity, or the addresses of the sender and recipient to categorize industries of specific products by area. Proper classification ensures the data is accessible and meaningful for economic research, policy analysis, and business strategy. 

Trade Data by Country and HS Code

Most researchers start by analyzing trade data by country and HS code. When combined with the date, researchers can identify shifts, patterns and in some cases trends. These trends can play a cruicial role for both business and politics to be better prepared. 

What is an HS Code?

The „HS“ in HS Code stands for „Harmonized System“ Code. It is an internationally standardized system for classifying traded products. Each product is assigned a unique numerical code, typically ranging from 6 to 10 digits.

Are US and Chinese HS Codes the same?

While for example China and USA use different versions of HS codes, both are based on the Harmonized System (HS) Framework by the World Customs Organization (WCO). Both countries use the 6-digit international standard for classifying goods, but further extend it by 2 to 4 additional digits for a more detailed categorization. 

Frequently asked Questions regarding Trade Data, specifically U.S. Import Data

Why do U.S. Researchers mainly Focus on Imports?

U.S. import data provides unparalleled insights into:

1. Outsourcing and Offshoring Trends:

• Identifies industries where production has shifted abroad, revealing potential vulnerabilities in domestic capabilities.

• Tracks critical sectors like semiconductors and pharmaceuticals that are heavily reliant on foreign suppliers.

2. Impact of Policies:

• Evaluates the effect of tariffs, trade wars, and government regulations on specific imports over time.

• For example, researchers can analyze how steel tariffs introduced in 2018 impacted U.S. steel imports by month or region.

3. Economic Dependencies:

• Highlights the U.S. reliance on specific countries for strategic goods, informing discussions on reshoring and reducing foreign dependencies.

How does Kirchnerdata support researchers with U.S. Import Records 

Kirchner offers one of the industry’s largest U.S. import dataset, sourced directly from bills of lading filed with U.S. Customs. Key features of this dataset include:

• Exporter and Importer Information: Names, addresses, and shipment details.

• Commodity Breakdown: HS codes, product descriptions, and quantities.

• Time-Series Data: Daily, weekly, or monthly data from 2014 to Today.

• Geographical Insights: Filter by port of entry, state, or region.

These records allow researchers to:

• Track specific product trends and analyze market shifts.

• Study the impact of trade agreements, tariffs, or geopolitical tensions.

• Forecast demand using historical import volumes.

• Identify potential risks in the supply chain and economic vulnerabilities.

What is a Bill of Lading?

A Bill of Lading is a document issued by a carrier, detailing the type, quantity, and destination of goods being shipped. It is a cornerstone of import export data, offering critical insights for researchers.

How Is Trade Data Used in Economics Research?

Trade data is used to study market trends, assess the impact of policies, and identify economic dependencies. It forms the basis for publications in top economic journals and drives political decision making. 

Can I Access Custom Data?

Yes, Kirchner provides datasets to fit your specific research requirements. We provide the data raw in bulk for your to upload to your own database and query internally, and we also offer access to our database and an online dashboard where you can write and run your own queries. Contact us for more details.

What is shown on a US Import bill of lading?

– Day

– Month

– Year

– Estimate Arrival Date

– Vessel Code

– Bill of Lading

– Master Bill of Lading

– Carrier SASC Code

– Vessel Code

– Vessel Name

– Manifest No

– Mode of Transportation

– Loading Port

– Unloading Port

– Place of Receipt

– Country

– Weight in KG

– Weight

– Weight Unit

– TEU

– Quantity

– Quantity Unit

– Container Id

– Container Size

– Container Type

– Container Desc Code

– Container Load Status

– Container Type of Service – Shipper Name

– Shipper Address

– Consignee Name

– Consignee Address

– Notify Party Name

– Notify Party Address

– Product Desc

– Marks & Numbers

– HS Code

– CIF

Do you have an example of Kirchner’s U.S. Import Records Data Table?

Kirchner compiles U.S. Ocean Import Records into a single, comprehensive data table. Each row corresponds to one Bill of Lading, allowing researchers to examine individual shipment details for analysis.

Below is a sample table to illustrate the structure and information included (note: this content is illustrative and does not reflect actual shipment data):