Global trade data gives you a clear and direct view of your competitors, their buyers, the categories of products being sold, which ports shipments are leaving from, which ports they are arriving at, and in what quantities. Even the names of foreign buyers are available! Once you have the company name and know for sure the person is a buyer, the next steps become much simpler.

You can also track and analyze the transaction history of existing clients, including purchase frequency, order volumes, and deal prices.

For example, if global trade data shows that a customer consistently has shipments arriving every February, this is likely an inline order. Based on production cycles, customs clearance, and shipping times (around 20 days for Southeast Asia and the US West Coast, and roughly 40 days for other regions), you can deduce that September–October is their peak purchasing season. That's the ideal time to recommend promotional products or new launches.

But identifying target customers with global trade data isn't enough—you also need to connect with the key decision-makers and get their contact information to move quickly toward cooperation. Many standard trade data providers don't offer this feature, leaving you to manually search on Google. More advanced providers, however, integrate contact details directly into the platform—such as decision-makers' emails and LinkedIn profiles—making outreach much more efficient.

Before reaching out, it's essential to conduct background research on your potential clients. This helps you understand their needs, preferences, and pain points, so you can tailor your message accordingly. With global trade data, you can gather this information upfront. When you call a prospect and reference details about their company and products, it shows you've invested time to understand their business and are genuinely interested in helping them.

Take MRG DE MEXICO S DE RL DE CV as an example. Using the Tendata global trade data platform, you can easily locate this company. By clicking on its name, you'll see key information such as its main import products, volumes, weight, value, and suppliers. Analyzing these trade records—including products, total order value, supply chain, and import regions—allows you to assess the buyer's purchasing power and sustainability. Trade trend analysis also helps you identify the best timing and entry point for outreach, making it easier to start conversations and build a foundation for long-term cooperation.

Now consider RIC MARINE & OFFSHORE SUPPLIES PTE. With Tendata's global trade data platform, you can continuously track competitors' transaction records and monitor their client base. By keeping an eye on competitors' trade activities, you'll receive real-time alerts on any changes, helping you uncover opportunities, safeguard against risks, and gain a competitive edge.