HS trade data guide
How to read China HS trade data
China HS trade data becomes useful when the product code, flow, partner country, month, and value are read together. This guide explains public HS6 and HS8 pages, the fields in paid CSV files, and how to check published coverage before buying. Use a custom request for unpublished scopes or special requirements.
Core fields
| Field | How to read it |
|---|---|
| HS code | The product classification. Selected published HS6 and HS8 codes have public pages; check the order builder for the exact paid coverage. An HS8 code does not by itself require a custom quote. |
| Flow | Export means China ships the product to a destination country. Import means China receives it from an origin country. |
| Partner country | Destination country for exports or origin country for imports. This is the core field for market and supplier analysis. |
| Period | Monthly period used to compare seasonality, shocks, growth, or source changes over time. |
| Value | Trade value, usually normalized into USD for charts, rankings, and spreadsheet work. |
| Quantity and unit | Physical volume, always paired with its native unit. Paid HS8 files include quantities and units where published; HS6 quantity cells are empty. Public quantity display depends on the page and published fields. |
Free sample data
Sample: United States Β· 2023.
| Field | Sample value | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| HS code | 61091000 | T-shirts, singlets & other vests, of cotton, knitted or crocheted |
| Flow | export | Read the direction from China: export goes to the partner; import comes from it. |
| Period | 2023-02 | One monthly observation, not an annual total. |
| Partner | United States (502) | The destination for this export observation. |
| Trade value | $41,914,858 USD | Monetary value in US dollars. This is not a weight or item count. |
| Quantity | 16,167,519 | Physical volume; read it together with the primary unit. |
| Unit | Number of item | The native unit for this quantity; it is not the currency used for trade value. |
| Supplementary quantity | 2,340,127 Kilogram | A separate source measurement in a second unit, not an amount to add to the primary quantity. |
A dollar amount cannot be read as kilograms. Compare or sum quantities only when their units are compatible. A blank quantity means unavailable, not zero. HS6 paid files have empty quantity cells; HS8 includes native quantities and units where published. Public charts may show fewer fields than paid files.
Questions the data can answer
Inspect public HS examples
Frequently asked questions
What is the most important field in HS trade data?
The HS code defines the product, while flow and partner country define the trade direction. For market work, the useful record usually combines HS code, month, flow, partner country, value, and source notes.
What does partner country mean?
For China exports, the partner is the destination country. For China imports, the partner is the origin country. The wording matters because export and import pages answer different business questions.
Can HS trade data show exact companies?
Aggregate GACC-style HS statistics show product, country, flow, period, value, and sometimes quantity fields. They are not shipment-level buyer or supplier records.
Can I view HS8 data and buy a file directly?
Selected published HS8 pages provide public trade-value and partner views. Public quantity fields vary by page; a public chart does not define the paid CSV coverage. Inspect the HS8 sample and your selection before checkout. Paid HS8 files include native quantities and units where published. After payment verification, download from the confirmation page; any preparation needed is shown before payment.
When should I request a custom file?
Use a custom request for unpublished codes, periods or partner scopes, special fields or formats, recurring updates, or help identifying a product. Published HS6 or HS8 selections, countries and flows can be purchased through the order builder without a manual quote when online checkout is available. We confirm availability, fees and delivery time for custom scopes before payment.