So where do imports compare with a year ago? Year-end data released by the USDA Foreign Agriculture Service (USDA FAS), show overall forest products imports increased 16% (Jan-Dec. 2010), compared to same period previous year.
IWPA does a fair amount of analysis of these number for our members (as you might expect). Recent changes in the USDA website have really helped as you now search the entire US database by HTS-code and trading partner. Spend a few minutes and you will quickly see how easily the new database can be used to analyze your market share by specific HTS code.
Sure, there are still challenges. Flooring numbers for example are nearly impossible to track. And some HTS numbers are pretty broad so they include multiple products (some plywood line items and veneer imports for example), but the data transparency is significantly better now than it has ever been.
Take a few minutes, start playing around with their website, I think you'll find for yourself how useful this data will be in your business analysis and ongoing strategic planning.
Click the link below for summary trade data and to directly access the USDA website:
http://www.iwpawood.org/displaycommon.cfm?an=1&subarticlenbr=153
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