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EXPORTER DATABASE

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You are here: About the SurveysForeign Trade › Exporter Database

PURPOSE

To provide a periodic database of all U.S. exporters/importers and their characteristics. The United States Code, Title 13, authorizes this data program. Use of Title 26 data has been approved by the Internal Revenue Service.

COVERAGE

Manufacturers, wholesalers, retailers and other intermediary firms that make export and import shipments during the benchmark year.

CONTENT

The Exporter Database (EDB) and Importer Database (IDB) contains key data items from export/import statistics, the Business Register establishment list (BR), and selected 5-year census files; future EDBs and IBDs may include additional information. Export data include commodities exported; shipment value, weight, country of destination, U.S. customs port, and method of transportation; exporter ZIP Code; and whether the transaction was between plants of the same firm. Import data include commodities exported; and shipment value, weight, country of origin, U.S. customs port, and method of transportation.

Business Register data include exporter/importer identification, location and employment; and parent company (if any) identification, organization, location, employment, number of establishments and ownership. Census data are from the censuses of manufactures and wholesale trade, are establishment-based and include identification, total shipments, total export/import shipments (or sales), and employment.

FREQUENCY

EDB released annually since 1996. It was first released following the 1992 Economic Census. IDB released annually since 2009.

METHODS

A compilation of selected establishment- and company-level data from annual export/import, the latest Business Register, and selected 5-year economic census files. Data are obtained and linked for all firms and establishments that filed information through the electronic Automated Export System (AES), Automated Commercial Environment (ACE), or via paper on the Shipper's Export Declarations (SED) for commodities shipped.

Data from different transactions and files are linked through use of reported Employer Identification Numbers (EINs), and other census file identification information. Linkages for single-unit (location) establishments are more exact than linkages for different units within multi-establishment companies. Matching criteria and reliability codes are used to assure locational integrity of linkages at the establishment level.

PRODUCTS

A press release and annual report announcing and summarizing results from the EDB and IDB is available on the Foreign Trade Division website. Additional information is issued by the International Trade Administration (ITA) and posted on its website.

USES

The ITA uses the summary data to analyze exports/imports and exporters/importers by type of organization, industry and location, and to assist in managing export promotion programs. State and local governments use these data to identify areas and industries with export potential.

SPECIAL FEATURES

Provides the only complete and periodic profiles of U.S. exports/imports and exporters/importers, and changes in these profiles.

AVAILABILITY

The Exporter Database and Importer Database are generally not available to the public. Qualified researchers with approved projects can access the data at secure Census Research Data Centers.

RELATED PROGRAMS

Import Statistics

Exporter Database

Annual Survey of Manufactures

EXPLORE INFORMATION

CONTINUE OVERVIEW

Multi-Sector

Next Program

U.S. Economy

Economy Overview


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