Researching export markets

A key challenge facing would-be exporters is the scarcity of reliable trade intelligence on markets. Exporters need to stay abreast of competitive conditions in their current markets, scan opportunities for new or emerging markets, as well as look for opportunities to diversify or value-add to their existing product range. At the same time importers worldwide also seek to optimize the potential offered by preferential trade agreements and improve the efficiency of their sourcing by scanning for new and competitive supplier countries. ITC addresses these issues with its suite of user friendly market analysis tools that help exporters, importers and trade support institutions stay up to date with international trade trends, improve their selection of export markets and suppliers, research and analyse markets in-depth and grow their trade over time.

Information

ITC’s Market Analysis Tools are accessible to enterprises to examine the export and import statistics of over 220 countries and territories to better understand supply and demand trends for around 5,300 internationally traded products. The tools are unique in product detail, as well as in breadth of geographic coverage – particularly for developing and least developed countries.

To understand how you can use the market analysis tools to research export markets, watch our free training videos demonstrating various features of the tools.

New in 2011

In addition to information on customs tariffs applied by around 187 countries, users will soon also be able to access non- tariff market access regulations applied by countries to imported products. These include sanitary and phytosanitary measures, other technical standards, taxes and procedural requirements among others.

The rapidly evolving field of voluntary sustainability standards is also of keen interest to many exporters. Whilst by definition, they do not fall within the set of national compulsory market access requirements, voluntary standards have the potential to help producers sell into niche markets and improve the environmental and social conditions associated with their production and trade. Yet with the expanding number of voluntary standards and their increasing complexity, producers struggle to weigh up the costs and potential future benefits of certification and compare the merits of different voluntary standards. ITC’s newest market analysis tool, Standards Map aims to improve transparency in this area and help exporters make more informed decisions about trade in products certified under voluntary schemes.

The market analysis tools provide companies with data on the size and growth of markets in value and quantity terms, the unit values paid in different markets, the shares and trade performance over time of competing supplier countries, as well as customs duties applied by markets – including preferential tariff rates arising out of regional trade agreements between countries. Users can examine the data and trade indicators in tables or generate graphs to easily compare different trade performance indicators. In addition to nine years of time series data, the tools also provide the most recent monthly import statistics for key markets and national tariff line data that enable further product group segmentation, thereby improving the precision of export opportunity identification.

Data and Research

Click here to start using ITC’s Market Analysis Tools.

Advisory Services

ITC provides a range of services to help exporters obtain maximum benefit from using the market anlaysis tools.

These include

E-mail enquiry service in English, French and Spanish via marketanalysis[at]intracen.org .
Telephone support hotline +41 22 730 0468 during European business hours.
Customized training via webinar upon demand – for more information e-mail marketanalysis[at]intracen.org

Training

ITC provides a range of face-to-face and distance learning programmes in market analysis and research that support companies, trade support institutions and governments in developing countries. Training content is tailored to the particular needs of the audience.

Face-to-face training programmes oriented to enterprises and trade support institutions emphasise practical hands-on experience for participants and range from short introductory 2-4 day workshops on using ITC’s market analysis tools for export market screening to in-depth multi-workshop programmes delivered over several months on the comprehensive process of researching and analysing export markets. Longer programmes provide training in applying a market research methodology that includes the use of ITC’s market analysis tools as well as other trade intelligence sources and various modes of trade information gathering.

In addition to training programmes delivered face-to-face through in-country workshops, ITC is increasingly developing and offering web-based distance learning training content and programmes to broaden its reach to more beneficiaries.

To discuss your concrete needs in market analysis and research and for a customized proposal, please contact us at marketanalysis[at]intracen.org

Projects

ITC delivers over 40 workshops annually in market analysis and research tools and methods, in all regions of the world.

We give priority to capacity building in Africa and Least Developed Countries with focus on developing sustainability by working through national trade promotion organisations, industry associations, national ministries and academic and research institutions.

Export Impact For Good

Researching export markets

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