China Export Data

Purpose: Provide straightforward access to official Chinese export statistics for research, verification, and baseline market analysis.

Target Users: Researchers, analysts, students, small business owners, and anyone needing factual China export data without advanced analytics requirements.

Official Data Sources

Source 1: UN Comtrade Database

Website: https://comtradeplus.un.org/

What it contains:

• China's exports reported to the UN by partner countries
• Mirror data (what partner countries report importing from China)
• Global coverage with standardized HS codes
• Historical data from 1962 to present

Best for:

• Comparing China with other exporting countries
• Analyzing China's exports to specific destination markets
• Long-term historical trend analysis
• Cross-country benchmarking

Access methods:

API Registration:

1. Visit https://uncomtrade.org/docs/api-subscription-keys/
2. Create account
3. Request API key for "comtrade - v1" (free tier: 100 calls/hour)
4. Premium tier available for unlimited access

Source 2: China Customs Statistics

Website: http://stats.customs.gov.cn/indexEn

What it contains:

• Official export statistics from China's General Administration of Customs
• More granular data than UN Comtrade
• Port-level breakdowns
• Trade mode classifications
• Domestic destination information

Best for:

• Most authoritative China-specific data
• Port and regional analysis within China
• Recent monthly data (1-2 month lag)
• Detailed product classifications

Navigation Guide:

English Interface Navigation:

Home (http://stats.customs.gov.cn/indexEn)
├── Query by HS Code
│   ├── Select Year/Month
│   ├── Select HS Code (Chapter → Heading → Subheading)
│   ├── Select Trade Flow (Export/Import)
│   └── Select Filters (optional)
├── Query by Country/Region
│   ├── Select Partner Country
│   ├── Select Time Period
│   └── Select Product Category
└── Query by Customs Port
    ├── Select Port
    ├── Select Time Period
    └── Select Product/Partner

How to Query Data

Step-by-Step: UN Comtrade Web Query

Step 1: Access Query Builder
→ Go to https://comtradeplus.un.org/lab?r=156
   (Pre-filtered for China as reporter)

Step 2: Select Trade Flow
→ Click "Flow" dropdown
→ Select "Exports" (or "Re-exports" if needed)

Step 3: Select Partner Country
→ Click "Partner" field
→ Search and select destination country
→ Or select "All" for global exports

Step 4: Select Product (HS Code)
→ Click "Commodity Code" field
→ Choose classification level:
   • HS 2-digit (broad category, e.g., "84 - Machinery")
   • HS 4-digit (specific heading)
   • HS 6-digit (detailed subheading)
→ Enter or select code

Step 5: Select Time Period
→ Choose "Year" (single or range)
→ For monthly data, select specific months

Step 6: Run Query
→ Click "Preview" for quick view
→ Click "Download" for CSV/Excel export

Step 7: Interpret Results
Columns explained:
• Reporter: Exporting country (China)
• Partner: Importing country
• Trade Value (USD): Export value in US dollars
• Netweight (kg): Quantity in kilograms
• Quantity: Alternative unit (if applicable)

Step-by-Step: China Customs Web Query

Step 1: Access English Interface
→ Go to http://stats.customs.gov.cn/indexEn

Step 2: Choose Query Type
→ "Query by HS Code" for product-focused search
→ "Query by Country/Region" for market-focused search
→ "Query by Customs Port" for logistics analysis

Step 3: Set Parameters
For HS Code Query:
→ Select Year and Month (or range)
→ Click HS Code selector
   • Expand chapters (01-97)
   • Select 2-digit chapter
   • Select 4-digit heading
   • Select 6-digit subheading (optional)
→ Select Trade Flow: "Export"
→ Apply additional filters (optional):
   • Trade Mode (General, Processing, etc.)
   • Customs Port
   • Domestic Destination
   • Transport Mode

Step 4: Execute Query
→ Click "Query" button
→ Wait for results (may take 10-30 seconds)

Step 5: Review Results
→ Table shows: HS Code, Description, Unit, Quantity, Value
→ Click column headers to sort
→ Use pagination for large result sets

Step 6: Export Data
→ Click "Export" or download icon
→ Choose format (Excel/CSV)
→ Save to local drive

Data Dictionary

Common Fields Explained

HS Code Structure

HS Code Hierarchy Example (Electronics):

85          ← Chapter (2-digit): Electrical machinery
  ↓
8517        ← Heading (4-digit): Telephone sets
  ↓
8517.12     ← Subheading (6-digit): Phones for cellular networks
  ↓
8517.12.00  ← Full code (8-digit): Detailed classification

Where to find HS codes:
• https://www.trade.gov/harmonized-system-hs-codes
• https://www.foreign-trade.com/reference/hscode.htm
• China Customs website HS code lookup

Query Examples

Example 1: China's Laptop Exports to USA (2023)

UN Comtrade Query:
├── Reporter: China (156)
├── Partner: United States (842)
├── Flow: Exports (2)
├── HS Code: 8471.30 (Laptops)
└── Period: 2023

China Customs Query:
├── HS Code: 8471.30
├── Trade Flow: Export
├── Partner: United States
└── Period: 2023

Example 2: China's Top Export Products (Latest Month)

China Customs Query:
├── Query Type: Top Products
├── Trade Flow: Export
├── Period: Latest available month
└── Result: Sorted by trade value

Example 3: China's Exports by Port

China Customs Query:
├── Query Type: By Customs Port
├── Select Port: All (or specific like Shanghai, Shenzhen)
├── HS Code: Your product
├── Trade Flow: Export
└── Period: Select time range

Data Availability & Limitations

Update Schedule

Known Limitations

Data Quality Indicators

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Issue 1: "No data found"

Possible causes:

• HS code doesn't exist for selected period
• Too restrictive filters applied
• Data not yet reported

Solutions:

• Try broader HS code (2-digit instead of 6-digit)
• Remove optional filters
• Check if data for period is available

Issue 2: "Query timeout"

Possible causes:

• Query too broad (all countries, all products)
• Server load high

Solutions:

• Narrow query scope
• Query in smaller batches
• Try during off-peak hours

Issue 3: Inconsistent values between sources

Possible causes:

• Different reporting methodologies
• Timing differences
• Data revisions

Solutions:

• Document both values with sources
• Use ranges instead of precise figures
• Check metadata for known issues

Quick Reference Card

┌────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│              CHINA EXPORT DATA - QUICK ACCESS              │
├────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ UN COMTRADE                                                │
│ URL: comtradeplus.un.org                                   │
│ Best for: Global comparison, historical data               │
│ API: 100 calls/hour (free)                                 │
├────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ CHINA CUSTOMS                                              │
│ URL: stats.customs.gov.cn/indexEn                          │
│ Best for: Official China data, port details                │
│ Update: Monthly (1-2 month lag)                            │
├────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ HS CODE LOOKUP                                             │
│ trade.gov/harmonized-system-hs-codes                       │
│ foreign-trade.com/reference/hscode.htm                     │
├────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ NEED HELP?                                                 │
│ UN Comtrade: unstats.un.org/wiki/display/comtrade          │
│ China Customs: Contact via website                         │
└────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

Output Formats

When retrieving data, you can typically export as:

Recommended: CSV for analysis, Excel for sharing