The Foreign Trade Index is a statistical indicator that reflects the trends and magnitudes of changes in the value, price, and quantity of import and export commodities for a country or region over a specific period. It measures the conditions, trade benefits, and their fluctuations in a nation's or region's foreign trade environment. Macroscopically, it serves as an indispensable tool for national economic analysis and forecasting, a critical instrument for governments to monitor market prices, and a key metric used by international institutions such as the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank to compare and evaluate national economic strength and global competitiveness. Microeconomically, it provides vital reference material for enterprises to analyze market trends and formulate development strategies.

  Foreign trade is influenced by multiple factors including international relations, development strategies, and public health policies. Consequently, the following critical issues can be analyzed through customs statistics from nations (or regions):

• Resource Endowments and Economic-Technological Development. The foundation of foreign trade lies in global disparities in factor distribution, production capabilities, and technological advancement, which create variations in market supply and demand. Countries worldwide enhance production of competitive goods while reducing output of disadvantaged products, exchanging surplus commodities for those in short supply through international trade. Customs data thus reveal comparative advantages, resource endowments, and economic-technological development levels of nations (or regions).

• Level of Openness. Import-export trade is not entirely market-free; governments regulate it through tariffs, procedural requirements, and service provisions, reflecting their openness policies. In recent years, China has significantly elevated its openness through initiatives such as free trade ports, pilot zones, the China-Europe Railway Express, the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor, "Single Window" integration with Belt and Road countries, and AEO mutual recognition agreements. The efficacy of these measures can be validated through customs data.

• Epidemic Prevention and Control. Port health quarantine constitutes a crucial component of international trade. The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted disparities in national防疫 policies, altered global trade environments, and intensified demands on卫生检疫 technologies. Customs data further illuminate a nation's (or region's) risk management capabilities and its role in global supply chains.

  The CnOpenData China Foreign Trade Index Database compiles official indices published by the General Administration of Customs of China, comprising 24 subtables with monthly data. These indices are categorized under four classification systems:

• Harmonized System (HS) (featuring HS 4-digit and HS 2-digit code indices)
• Standard International Trade Classification (SITC) (calculating indices for primary goods, manufactured products, and subcategories)
• Broad Economic Categories (BEC) (covering capital goods, intermediate products, and consumer goods)
• National Economic Industry Classification (including agriculture, mining, manufacturing, etc.).
  The database provides month-on-month and year-on-year indices for China's import and export trade under each classification.

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Time Coverage

2018.01-2024.11

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Field Descriptions

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Sample Data

National Export Trade Year-on-Year Index (HS2 Classification)

National Export Trade Year-on-Year Index (SITC2 Classification)

National Export Trade Year-on-Year Index (BEC Classification)

National Export Trade Year-on-Year Index (National Economic Industry Classification)

National Export Trade Year-on-Year Index (HS4 Classification)

National Export Trade Year-on-Year Index (SITC3 Classification)

National Export Trade Month-on-Month Index (HS2 Classification)

National Export Trade Month-on-Month Index (SITC2 Classification)

National Export Trade Month-on-Month Index (BEC Classification)

National Export Trade Month-on-Month Index (National Economic Industry Classification)

National Export Trade Month-on-Month Index (HS4 Classification)

National Export Trade Month-on-Month Index (SITC3 Classification)

National Import Trade Year-on-Year Index (HS2 Classification)

National Import Trade Year-on-Year Index (SITC2 Classification)

National Import Trade Year-on-Year Index (BEC Classification)

National Import Trade Year-on-Year Index (National Economic Industry Classification)

National Import Trade Year-on-Year Index (HS4 Classification)

National Import Trade Year-on-Year Index (SITC3 Classification)

National Import Trade Month-on-Month Index (HS2 Classification)

National Import Trade Month-on-Month Index (SITC2 Classification)

National Import Trade Month-on-Month Index (BEC Classification)

National Import Trade Month-on-Month Index (National Economic Industry Classification)

National Import Trade Month-on-Month Index (HS4 Classification)

National Import Trade Month-on-Month Index (SITC3 Classification)

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Data Update Frequency

Annual updates