Have you ever wondered where all these products imported into the US come from? Luckily for you, each shipment entering the US via seaport is documented on the public record. This means that you can access a database with all the information about its origin and the type of products. Fortunately, you don’t need to sift through data on a non-exciting government website. You can take a peek at this valuable information with a free online tool, ImportYeti. How to use ImportYeti to get ahead of your competition?
What is ImportYeti?
ImportYeti is a free online tool that was designed to help businesses uncover detailed supply chain information by analyzing US customs sea shipment records. It has been running since 2021. It collects over 70 million US customs sea shipment records into a searchable database, where you get access to public shipping data, such as:
- list of suppliers and manufacturers – so you can find and contact your competitor’s source of products
- total sea shipments over time and the most recent data
- product breakdowns based on HS Code – you can get inspired by what other businesses are sourcing
- breakdown of imports by country – if you focus on sourcing from China, you can see the most popular products or find your niche
- size of the shipments – by analyzing this data, you can compare the pricing and negotiate better pricing with your supplier.
How does ImportYeti work? Key features and services
If you know a bit about how sea shipping works, you know that every shipment that passes through a US port is documented on the public record via a bill of lading. But you don’t have to waste time sifting through all the data by yourself. ImportYeti compiles this information for you. Here are the key features and services.
User-friendly interface and free access to data
The platform is easy to use and navigate, which means you don’t need any extensive technical knowledge to browse the database. Its sleek and minimalistic design adds to the joy of using it.
ImportYeti offers many options for free, and in some cases, you don’t even need to log in to check the information you’re looking for.
Supplier discovery. Where does Lululemon get its products from?
On ImportYeti, you can find reliable suppliers by searching the actual import data of your competitors. How to do it? There are only a couple of steps you need to take. For example, let’s look into where Lululemon gets its products from step by step.
1. Enter the name into the search bar
2. Choose the desired option
3. On the company page, find the relevant information
You can search for top global suppliers, sort them by country, and even by shipment activity.
With ImportYeti Premium, you can unlock special features. For instance, you can:
- download data
- access bills of lading with a chosen supplier
- discover US and international supply chain
- and many more.
Supplier search. Is this potential supplier the right fit?
With ImportYeti Premium, you can explore a supplier database. Supplier Search allows you to search by company name, location (by continents and countries), and whether the company is on Alibaba.
But even without the premium plan, you can explore data about manufacturers. When you view a supplier’s profile on ImportYeti, you can analyze the following:
- How many customers does it have?
- Does it supply to well-known brands that take quality control seriously?
- Does it ship to your destination market?
- Does it have the capacity to accommodate your requirements?
- Would it be willing to work with a company similar to yours?
HS code search. What is the most popular at Walmart?
On ImportYeti, you can search for a product by its HS code, which is the category a product is placed in to determine the tariffs in the US Harmonized Tariff Schedule. Simply go to HS Code Explorer and search for the products you are interested in.
You can also look into what products are most popular within a company. Let’s have a look at Walmart’s product breakdown.
Why should you use ImportYeti?
If you are interested in shipping or sourcing to the US, analyzing data available for free on ImportYeti can help you get ahead of your competition.
- Identify and vet potential suppliers by analyzing actual shipment data and avoid unreliable manufacturers.
- Get access to detailed import records to monitor industry trends using a user-friendly interface and make informed strategic decisions.
- Negotiate better pricing by understanding supplier relationships and get more profits.
For more information or to explore the platform, visit ImportYeti’s official website.
