For U.S. merchandise trade figures broken down by both commodity and country, start with the Census Bureau’s USA Trade Online. Choose imports or exports, select the matching commodity classification and dataset, then filter by product, trading partner, time period, and measure. If you need only country totals, a broad industry category, or a downloadable file for analysis, Census offers other routes that may fit better.
Choose the right Census data route
The best source depends on whether you need detailed commodity codes, a broad industry view, a particular U.S. geography, or a file for your own analysis.
| Question | Census route | Important distinction |
|---|---|---|
| How much did the U.S. trade with a country over time? | Country and Product Trade Data, country-only table | Monthly country exports, imports, and balance from 1985 to present; no product detail. |
| How much of a broad industry did the U.S. trade with a country? | Country-by-NAICS tables or NAICS data in USA Trade Online | Country-by-3- and 6-digit NAICS monthly and annual data from January 2000 to present. NAICS describes industries, not customs commodity codes. |
| How much of a specific commodity was imported from or exported to a country? | USA Trade Online district HS data or Census merchandise files | Use HTS codes for imports and Schedule B codes for exports; choose detail and geography to suit the question. |
| Which state or port was associated with the trade? | State or port data in USA Trade Online, or state data products | State export origin of movement and state import destination are different concepts from customs district or port. |
| Can I download data for my own analysis? | Census Data Products | Import and export files have different classifications and value fields; consult the product description and record layout. |
Build a product-by-country report in USA Trade Online
- Choose imports, exports, or both. The partner definition depends on the direction: exports are reported by destination, while import data identifies country of origin.
- Select the appropriate commodity classification. Exports use Schedule B numbers; imports use Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) numbers. A product name can match multiple codes, so verify the code and edition rather than relying on a keyword alone.
- Pick the dataset and geography. District data provides the deepest commodity detail. Port, state, and NAICS datasets answer different questions and may offer less commodity detail.
- Search for the product and select the partner. After selecting the commodity dataset, find the product by name or code and choose the relevant country.
- Set the period and report measures. Choose monthly, annual, or other available periods and select the measures needed for the analysis. Available measures differ between imports and exports.
- View or download the report. Use the report’s download controls. For reproducibility, record the data product, commodity code and edition, partner definition, geography, measure, time range, and retrieval date.
Census describes USA Trade Online as “the simplest, fastest, and most economical way to access the monthly merchandise trade numbers.” That is the agency’s description of its service, not an independent comparison.
Classify the product correctly
Do not assume an import code and an export code are interchangeable, even when both describe a similar product. The Census Bureau’s Harmonized Systems page describes the distinction: Schedule B numbers classify exports, while HTS numbers classify imports.
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For an export, search the Census Bureau’s Schedule B tool and code books using plain-language terms, then confirm the code in the applicable annual edition. The Schedule B page lists the 2026 edition and earlier editions and notes that concordance files can change. A commercial product name may map to more than one statistical code, and classifications can change between editions.
Match the geography to the question
- Country: Use country-only totals for bilateral trade over time when commodity detail is unnecessary.
- Customs district: Use district figures for the deepest HS commodity detail in the interactive system. District data describes customs geography, not the state where a product originated or was consumed.
- Port: Use port data when the port-level view matters; its commodity detail is shallower than district data.
- State: Interpret state exports as origin of movement and state imports as state of destination. These are not equivalent to customs district or port locations.
- NAICS: Use this industry classification for broad industry trade views, not as a substitute for a specific HTS or Schedule B commodity code.
For exports, the partner is generally the country of destination. For imports, Census identifies the country of origin. Keep the partner definition separate from the U.S. movement geography: “country of origin,” “state of destination,” “origin of movement,” and “customs port” describe different things.
Check coverage before comparing years
Census lists different starting years and code detail for different products. These are dataset coverage points, not a guarantee that every product-country combination has a nonzero or unsuppressed observation for every period.
| Dataset | Detail and frequency listed by Census | Coverage listed by Census |
|---|---|---|
| District-level HS | Up to 10 digits; annual and monthly/year-to-date data | Annual data from 1992; monthly/year-to-date data from 2003 |
| Port-level HS | Up to 6 digits; monthly | From 2003 |
| State export HS | 6 digits; monthly | From 2002 |
| State import HS | 6 digits; monthly | From 2008 |
| Country-only totals | Monthly country exports, imports, and balance; no product detail | 1985 to present |
| Country by NAICS | 3- and 6-digit detail; monthly and annual | January 2000 to present |
| Country by end-use | 5-digit end-use totals; annual | 2012 to present |
| International Trade API | Monthly HS data | 2013 onward, according to the Census Harmonized Systems page |
Before building a long comparison, verify the current release and notes on the relevant Census data product. A series’ start date, classification edition, or detail level may differ from another series you plan to compare.
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Choose and label the value measure
Do not treat every dollar figure as the same measure. Census export products include value, quantity, shipping weight, and transport-mode measures. Import products can include customs value, CIF value, import charges, dutiable value, and calculated duties. Check the selected product’s description and name the measure in any chart, table, or conclusion. Avoid comparing or summing values until you have confirmed they represent the same concept.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Download files and make the result reproducible
Use USA Trade Online’s report download controls for a query you built interactively, or choose a downloadable product from Census Data Products when you need data outside the interface. The Bureau says products previously available by subscription are now public at no cost. Review each file’s description and record layout because import and export files do not necessarily contain the same classifications or measures.
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For a result someone else can reproduce, save these details with the file:
Quick Recap
- Data product and retrieval date
- Imports or exports, and the partner definition used
- Commodity classification, code, and edition
- Geographic dataset and its meaning
- Measure or measures selected
- Time range and frequency
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