The market analysis tools provide trade support institutions with data to advise exporters 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. For strategic considerations about where to prioritize trade promotion resources, trade support institutions can obtain tables showing top products exported by their country, top markets (overall and by product), trade balances, and gra2phical presentations of a country’s product and market performance comparing several indicators simultaneously using bubble graphs with growth-share matrices.
In addition to graphical features and performance indicators, the tools contain time series annual data from 2001 through to the most recent monthly import statistics for key markets. National tariff line level trade data for key markets enables detailed product group segmentation, thereby improving the precision of export opportunity identification.
To understand how you can use the market analysis tools to research export markets and analyse national export performance, watch our free training videos demonstrating various features of the tools.
New in 2011
In addition to information on customs tariffs applied by around 188 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 trade support institutions and 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.