After doing import and export for over a decade, the one phrase I dread hearing the most is: "The customer is gone, and I don't know where to find new ones."

Come on, what era are we living in? While you're still waiting passively for inquiries on some platform, others are already using global trade data to strip your customer base clean. That next order? It's already gone to your competitor.

Today, Tendata is giving you a real game-changer:

The ultimate collection of the most practical free trade data websites—all verified, actually usable, and with real data. No fluff, no inflated numbers, no repeats.

(1) Core Tools: Global Customs Data / Bill of Lading Trackers (Find buyers & suppliers)

1.Tendata Global Trade Database

Website: www.tendata.com

Covers import/export data from 228 countries and regions. Instantly search key markets, customer distribution, product volumes & prices—gain sharp insight into global and target market trade dynamics.

2.ImportYeti

Website: https://www.importyeti.com

U.S. customs data. Free search for buyers/suppliers/products.

3.PortExaminer

Website: http://portexaminer.com

U.S. Bill of Lading tracking. Search by company or product.

4.Panjiva (Partially free)

Website: https://panjiva.com

A global purchasing network. Powerful relationship maps between companies.

5.Trademo

Website: https://trademo.com

Modern UI, supports global queries and data visualization.

6.Enigma Public

Website: https://public.enigma.com

Public procurement info for U.S. companies—great for government-related sourcing.

7.Zauba (India)

Website: http://www.zauba.com

Indian customs data. Search by HS code.

✅ Who is this for:

Import-export professionals looking for clients, targeting competitor customers, or tracking supply chains.

✅ Suggested Use:

Enter a brand name or a client company name to see: who sells to them, what they sell, and how often they ship.

(2) Official Customs Websites (For policies, tariffs, and some national trade statistics)

·China: http://www.customs.gov.cn/

·USA: http://www.cbp.gov/

·Australia: http://www.customs.gov.au/

·Japan: http://www.customs.go.jp/english/index.htm

·South Korea: https://www.customs.go.kr/english/main.do

·UK: http://customs.hmrc.gov.uk

·Germany: http://www.zoll.de/index.html

·France: http://www.douane.gouv.fr/

·UAE: http://www.dubaicustoms.gov.ae

·Singapore: https://www.customs.gov.sg

·South Africa: http://www.sars.gov.za/

·Mexico: http://www.sat.gob.mx/

·Chile: http://www.aduana.cl/aduana/site/edic/base/port/inicio.html

✅ Best for: Companies entering new export markets, and those verifying regulations or rules of origin.

⚠️ Note: Most do not provide detailed bill of lading data, but they are useful for checking regulations, tariff directories, and customs declaration procedures.

(3) Global Buyer Directories (Includes emails and product filters)

1.Tendata Global Buyer Directory

Website: www.tendata.com

Search detailed buyer info globally, access accurate importer lists, and view decision-maker contacts including emails, LinkedIn, and Facebook—all in one place.

2.TradeIndia

Website: http://www.tradeindia.com

India's largest B2B buyer platform; find buyers by product.

3.NIIR (India Importer Directory, some with emails)

Website: https://www.niir.org/directory/

4.Chilnet (Chile)

Website: http://www.chilnet.cl

Supported by local business chambers; importer search.

5.Ethiomarket (Ethiopia)

Website: http://www.ethiomarket.com/Products/products_init.htm

East African buyers, categorized by industry.

6.ExportersIndia

Website: http://www.exportersindia.com/foreign-importers/index-a.htm

Global buyers directory with contact info.

7.DirectoriosCostaRica (Costa Rica)

Website: http://www.directorioscostarica.com

✅ Best for: Companies targeting niche B2B markets or startups struggling to find client emails.

✅ Pro Tip: Use with tools like Hunter.io or Apollo.io to verify emails and job roles.

4. Global Import/Export Statistics & Trend Platforms

(Check HS code traffic, rankings, and trade structures)

1.IndexMundi – Country-by-country import/export product charts

Website: http://www.indexmundi.com/trade/imports/

2.UN Comtrade – Official UN trade database, world's largest

Website: https://comtrade.un.org/

3.Trademap (ITC) – Bidirectional analysis by product/country

Website: https://www.trademap.org/

4.World Bank Trade Stats – Rich graphs and charts

Website: https://wits.worldbank.org/

5.Haiguan.info (China) – Supports Chinese customs data, HS code lookup

Website: http://www.haiguan.info/

6.Chemical Weekly – Specialized in import/export analysis for chemicals

Website: https://www.chemicalweekly.com/

✅ Best for: Understanding what products are heavily imported/exported by country, identifying hot product trends, and conducting market research.

⚠️ Note: Most data is macro-level—ideal for strategic planning or market entry research.

5. Tendata Pro Tip: Don't just “bookmark”—use it!

Bookmarking is useless if you don't act. Here's how to use the data:

Finding clients:

Search a competitor → See who buys from them → Those are your potential clients

Search a brand → See who they buy from → Uncover the client relationship chain

Evaluating markets:

Want to enter Latin America? First, check Tendata to see Mexico and Colombia's import volumes for electronics.

Unsure what price to quote? Check what Indian clients are buying and for how much.

What to do after identifying clients:

Use Tendata to find their contact info

Look them up on LinkedIn

Pitch your value proposition to win them over

With data in your hands, clients follow.

If you don't check the data, your competitor owns those clients.

If you take action, the data will pave your way.