To be honest, free trade data available online can only give you a rough idea—it will never show you everything. If it were truly comprehensive and free, why would so many trade data companies sell their systems for thousands or even tens of thousands of dollars?

Whether a trade data provider is professional or not is one of the key factors foreign trade companies or individual SOHO traders consider when choosing a partner. Since most foreign trade professionals in China have not had much exposure to global trade data before, they often face various challenges and confusion when making a choice. Here, I’d like to share some suggestions:

1. Accuracy of Global Trade Data

Accuracy is the most essential feature of global trade data as a core component of foreign trade big data. If you search for import records of a buyer you already know and find nothing, or the results are completely mismatched, it shows that the company’s data is incomplete or not sourced from original records.

If you find a lot of records but with excessive duplication, it means the platform did not consolidate multiple trade records for the same company. This will create difficulties for later data analysis, so it’s better to avoid such providers.

2. Timeliness of Data Updates

Business is like a battlefield—timely updated data is critical intelligence in foreign trade. A professional global trade data platform places great importance on how quickly its data is refreshed. If a certain country’s data is never updated, the platform cannot meet foreign trade enterprises’ needs for timely global trade insights.

3. Effective After-Sales Service

An experienced account manager can help you achieve twice the results with half the effort. You may gain many unexpected insights through their guidance. Having professional after-sales support throughout the process is far better than struggling on your own.

Among the many trade data platforms, I recommend Tendata. Its data accuracy and professionalism have been tested and verified by tens of thousands of clients.

Example Comparisons：

1.G.S. GARMENTS LTD.

With Tendata, you can easily access the company's basic profile, making background checks convenient. Every import and export record is detailed—covering products, quantities, prices, etc. It also provides product lists, supply chain connections, port records, and more supplementary information, allowing for a comprehensive analysis of the company.

2. EUROFIEL CONFECCION S.A.

Tendata not only provides trade records but also offers company contact details. Unlike other trade data platforms where you have to find contacts yourself, Tendata allows you to quickly access decision-makers’ information and connect with potential customers faster.