Major Resources for
International Market Research
 |
Minnesota Trade Office |
CLASSIFICATION SYSTEMS
| Title and Publisher | Call # | Web Version | Frequency | Coverage | Tips/Notes |
Explanatory Notes (World Customs Organization) |
KF6654 |
To purchase. |
Updated twice a year. | Official Interpretation of the Harmonized System. Scopes of headings, technical descriptions of goods and practical guidance for classification. | |
| North American Industry Classification System (US Office of Management and Budget) | HF1042 .N6 2002 |
www.census.gov/pub/epcd/www/naics.html
|
Every 10 years. SIC/ 1987 and NAICS/ 1997. Portions were revised in 2002. | The system was developed by the US, Canada, and Mexico to provide comparable statistics across the three countries, update industry titles and expand from a four to a six digit system. | |
| Schedule B (US Census Bureau) | KF6654 .599 .U5533 2002 |
www.census.gov/foreign-trade/schedules/b/ Schedule and index |
Annual updates. | Statistical classification of domestic and foreign commodities exported from the United States. Every item that is exported is assigned a unique 10 digit identification code. | Search by 10 digit Schedule B codes or alphabetical index of the 6 digit Schedule B codes. |
| Standard Industrial Classification | HF1042 .S73 1987 |
www.osha.gov/oshstats/sicser.html Search by product or number |
Now updated by NAICS | Standard numerical code system developed by the U.S. government to classify industries. Used when compiling establishment based economic statistics. | |
| Standard International Trade Classification | HF1041 .U56 |
http://esa.un.org/unsd/cr/registry/regcst.asp?Cl=14
|
Standard numerical code system developed by the United Nations to
classify international trade commodities. |
The website has updated information on Statistical Classifications maintained by the United Nations Statistics Division and a correlation table between the 2002 Harmonized Schedule and the SITC. |
INDUSTRY AND TRADE POTENTIAL
| Title and Publisher | Call # | Web Version | Frequency | Coverage | Tips/Notes |
European Business Facts and Figures(Office for Official Publications of the European Communities) |
HC241 .2 .P313 2002 |
www.europa.eu.int/comm/eurostat |
Irregular. | Statistical look at 125 manufacturing and service industries in the European Union providing an overview of each industry: description, trends, annual output, employment, production and foreign trade. | |
| Standard & Poor's Industry Surveys | HC106.6 .S74 |
http://www2.standardandpoors.com/ NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename =sp/sp_product/productTemplate&c= sp_product&cid=1026910501829&b=10&r=1 Description and to purchase. |
Updated twice annually. | Industry information and economic trends on 51 major U.S. industries. Textual analysis and commentary, statistical data and charts, forecasts, emerging trends, glossaries and industry references. Quick reviews of conditions and the current investment perspective on more than 115 market sectors. | |
| U.S. Industry & Trade Outlook (US International Trade
Administration) |
HC101 .U543 2000 |
http://www.trade.gov/index.asp Offers two links to current industry data. Web version being developed. |
Last print version 2000. |
Presents emerging trends and forecasts for 350+ U.S.
manufacturing and service industries. Includes tables on U.S. trade,
shares of imports and exports by regions, and industry specific outlooks
for international trade. Industry analysts and telephone numbers are
listed. |
TRADE STATISTICS AND FLOWS
| Title and Publisher | Call # | Web Version | Frequency | Coverage | Tips/Notes |
| FAO Yearbook. Trade. (Food and Agriculture Organization) |
HD9000 .4.T7 |
FAOSTAT: Online database with 1 million+ |
Annual. | Compilation of import and export statistical data on basic food and agricultural products for all countries and territories of the world. | Uses Standard International Trade Classification (SITC) |
| International Trade Centre Infobases (UNCTAD/WTO) |
Internet |
Select |
Updates as received. | Five year tables of international import and export statistics by section and product group or by country and product group. National trade performances by country. Includes more than 100 countries. | Includes Standard International Trade Classification (SITC) Revision 3 codes list. |
| International Trade Statistics Yearbook (UN) | HF91. U473 |
http://www.un.org/Pubs/sales.htm http://unstats.un.org/unsd/comtrade Comtrade beta test version allows a guest login to access very detailed merchandise trade statistics. |
Annual. | Provides statistical information for 174 countries or reporting customs areas. Basic information for individual country's external trade performance in terms of the overall trends in current value, as well as, in volume and price; the importance of trading partners and the significance of individual commodities imported and exported. | Uses Standard International Trade Classification (SITC) |
| Minnesota Quarterly Trade Statistics | MTO website |
http://www.exportminnesota.com Minnesota Trade Office |
Quarterly. Annual. |
The most current resource available for tracing the state's manufactured export trends. Exports by state are collected by the US Dept. of Commerce and adjusted by the Massachusetts Institute for Social and Economic Research. | Statistics based on two digit SIC codes. |
| PIERS - Port Import Export Reporting Service (Journal of Commerce) | Internet | http://www.piers.com/index.cfm (Fee) |
Weekly updates | Global cargo movements transiting seaports in the US, Mexico and S. America to companies around the world. Includes exporting/importing company data, quantities, product descriptions, etc. | |
| TradStat (DIALOG) |
Internet | http://www.tradstatweb.com/ http://www.datastarweb.com/ (Fee) |
Tracks imports and exports for the 24 countries which account or 90% of international trade. Allows user defined report on countries, regions or industry sectors. | Uses Harmonized Schedule |
|
| US International Trade Commission Trade Database | Internet | http://dataweb.usitc.gov/scripts/user_set.asp Free with registration. |
Annual | A statistical database that gives users a tool to define their own tables on US exports, imports and trade balances. |
Searches by HS or SIC codes. 1989 to current trade data. |
| USA Trade Online | Internet |
(Fee) |
Monthly updates | U.S. export and import information on more than 18,000 commodities world wide. | Uses Harmonized Schedule |
INVESTMENT ANALYSIS
| Title and Publisher | Call # | Web Version | Frequency | Coverage | Tips/Notes |
| Investext | http://galenet.galegroup.com/servlet/BCRC ?ste=26&aca=invr&srchtp=adv&locID=mnauduluth |
Daily | Provides full text of company, industry, and geographic
research reports written by analysts at investment banks, brokerage
houses and consulting firms worldwide. |
Part of General BusinessFile or Business & Company
Resource Center (Gale) |
MARKET STRENGHT INDICATORS
| Title and Publisher | Call # | Web Version | Frequency | Coverage | Tips/Notes |
Demographic Yearbook
(United Nations) |
HA17.
|
http://unstats.un.org/unsd/demographic/ http://unstats.un.org/unsd/ Description and to purchase. |
Annual
|
Includes population, natality, mortality, nuptiality and divorce, household profiles, vital statistics rates, surface area and density for each country. 83 tables in the fields of demographic and social statistics, national accounts, finance, labor, wages and prices, agriculture, industry, transport and communications, energy, environment, science |
|
| Industrial Commodity Statistics Yearbook (United Nations) |
HC59.I53 | http://unstats.un.org/unsd/industry/ Description and to purchase. |
Annual | The production of about 530 industrial commodities for approxiamately 200 countries or areas. Regional and grand toals for most of the statistical series for 10 years. | A table of correspondence between SITC and HS codes. |
| International Yearbook of Industrial Statistics (United Nations Industrial Development Organization) |
HD2958 .I58 |
http://www.unido.org/Regions.cfm?area= Online statistics |
Annual | Industrial activity for 120 countries with data on industries and products: number of enterprises, number of employees, wages, output, value added and fixed capital formation. | |
Main Economic Indicators
|
HC10.
|
http://www.oecd.org/document/48/0,2340, en_2649_34247_1912816_1_1_1_1,00.html Partial information http://www.oecd.org/home/ Partial information |
Monthly Twice a year |
Industrial production, construction, cars, producer and consumer prices, retail sales, unemployment, manufacturing, consumer goods, raw materials, domestic and foreign trade, wages, and prices. Current economic situation, policies and prospects for private consumption, consumer confidence, business climate and industrial production OECD countries: Western & Central Europe, Canada, Mexico, U.S., Korea, Japan, Australia, New Zealand. |
|
| Viewswire (Economist Intelligence Unit) |
Internet |
(Fee) |
100-150 articles & tables daily | Analysis and briefings on key economic, political, business and operating developments on 195 Countries. Macroeconomic forecasts (including 5 year forecasts), country background reports and country regulations. |
|
| World Development Indicators | HC59.15. W656 |
http://www.worldbank.org/data/wdi2001/ Partial data online http://www.worldbank.org/wdr/2001/fulltext/fulltext2002.htm Full text online |
Annual Annual |
Presents 800 indicators in 87 tables, organized in six sections: world view, people, environment, economy, states and markets, and global links. An annual analysis of major social and economic developments, 2002 title: Building Institutions for Markets. Includes selected world development indicators. |
|
| World Economic Outlook (International Monetary Fund) |
HC10. W7979 |
http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/weo/2001/03/index.htm Full text online. |
Twice a year | Reports on recent world economic and trade developments
and future prospects. Forcasts1-2 years. |
PRODUCT DEMAND FACTORS
| Title and Publisher | Call # | Web Version | Frequency | Coverage | Tips/Notes |
China Marketing Data & Statistics
|
HA4631 Desk REF |
|
Annual. | Includes demographic trends and forecasts, economic indicators, trade, labor, consumer expenditure patterns, retailing and retail distribution, advertising patterns and media access, and consumer market size for: China, its cities and provinces. Countries of Europe. Non-European Countries. |
|
| Consumer China (one in a series of titles from Euromonitor) |
HC430 .C6C65 |
Description and to purchase. |
Annual. |
An analysis of market opportunities in China and Hong Kong with a wide range of statistical information covering marketing parameters and specific data on key consumer market for 290 products. | |
| "Indicators of Market Size for 60 Countries" (Country
Monitor, EIU) |
HD2755 |
|
Special annual issue of weekly newsletter. |
Economies as a whole including population, national accounts
and international trade. Also private expenditures and indicators of
key market segments such as automobiles, electricity and telephones. |
ENTRY IMPEDIMENTS
| Title and Publisher | Call # | Web Version | Frequency | Coverage | Tips/Notes |
| Country Commerce (Economist Intelligence Unit) | HG4538 .I6543 |
|
Annual. | A guide to operating conditions, commercial laws and business regulations in 53 countries. Includes licensing and protection of intellectual property, fringe benefits, a sampling of wages and competition and taxes. | |
| Country Reports on Economic Policy & Trade Practices (Dept. of State) | http://www.state.gov/e/eb/rls/rpts/eptp/2001/
|
Annual. | A comprehensive and comparative analysis of the economic policies and trade practices of the 77 nations with which the US trades. Includes barriers to market entry, export subsidy policies, intellectual property protection and worker rights. | ||
| Export Administration Regulations (Bureau of Export Administration) | KF1987 |
Full text of regulations and other export assistance. |
Annual with updates. | Contains the entire Export Administration Regulations (EAR), including the Commerce Control List, the Commerce Country Chart, and the Denied Persons List. | |
| International Financial Statistics | HG3881 .I626 |
http://www.imf.org Description and to purchase. |
Monthly/ Annual yearbook |
All aspects of international and domestic finance. Focuses on national accounts, banks, finance, balance of payments, monetary supply and exchange rates for Albania through Zimbabwe. | |
| International Risk and Payment Review (Dun & Bradstreet) | HF1371 .I5 |
http://ds.datastarweb.com/ds/products/ datastar/sheets/irpr.htm Description and to purchase. |
Monthly | Information for 120 countries includes: D&B Country Risk Indicator, economic indicators, transfer situation and a concise analysis of the political, financial, economic and trading situation. | |
| National Trade Estimate Report on Foreign Trade Barriers (US Trade Representative) | HF 1456 .U53a |
|
Annual. | Significant foreign trade barriers including government-imposed
measures and policies that restrict, prevent or impede the exchange
of goods and services, foreign direct investment and protection of
intellectual property rights. |
MARKETING AND REGULATORY OVERVIEW
| Title and Publisher | Call # | Web Version | Frequency | Coverage | Tips/Notes |
| Country Commerce (Economist Intelligence Unit) | HG4538 .I6543 |
|
Annual. | A guide to operating conditions, commercial laws and business regulations in 53 countries. Includes licensing and protection of intellectual property, fringe benefits, a sampling of wages and competition and taxes. | |
| Country Commercial Guides Internet | Internet | http://export.gov/mrktresearch/ ' Market Research http://www.tradeport.org/ Free partial access |
Updated daily | Prepared annually by U.S. embassies. These reports present a look at countries' commercial environments, using economic, political and market analysis. How to market products and services, leading sectors for exports and investment, financing and trade regulations. | |
Doing Business |
Varies | http://www.doingbusiness.org/ Full text online. |
Irregular. | Quick overview of the investment climate, taxation, forms of business organization, and business and accounting practices in 155 countries. | |
| Export Reference Manual (Bureau of National Affairs) | HF3011 .I5804 |
http://web.bna.com/products/corplaw/exgw.htm For a free trial, a sample or to purchase. |
Bi-weekly updates. | Information needed to export. Customs regulations, contacts in foreign cities, mail shipping, duties, foreign exchange, documentation, labeling and packing for more than 200 overseas markets. | |
| Official Export Guide (Primedia Directories) CD-ROM |
HF3011 .O34 2001 |
http://www.officialexportguide.com/ Description and samples. |
Updated 2-3 times per month. | Summarizes or reprints US government export resources: export how-to, country profiles, shipping services, contacts, Schedule B, SIC/HS Codes cross-index, Export Administration Regulations, Hazardous Materials Regulations and export documents. |
PRODUCTS/SERVICE
MARKET REPORTS
| Title and Publisher | Call # | Web Version | Frequency | Coverage | Tips/Notes |
| Attaché Reports (U.S. Department of Agriculture) |
Internet | http://www.fas.usda.gov/scriptsw/attacherep/ default.asp |
Updated daily | Research on agricultural products in country markets includes market planning, exporter guides, regulatory overviews, sector analyses, market development reports, market promotion and competition, and trade data. | |
| Country Commercial Guides | Internet | http://export.gov/mrktresearch/ ' Market Research |
Updated daily | Prepared annually by U.S. embassies. These reports present a look at countries' commercial environments, using economic, political and market analysis. How to market products and services, leading sectors for exports and investment, financing and trade regulations. | |
| International Marketing Insight Reports |
CD-ROM | Updated daily | Short profiles may focus on specific projects, industry profiles, finance and marketing trends, regulation and import changes, trade show opportunities or government policy updates. | ||
Industry Sector Analysis |
http://www.tradeport.org/ |
Monthly updates
|
In-depth profiles include market opportunities, end-users, competitors, market access, distribution channels, market barriers, finance options, best sales prospects, trade promotion opportunities and in-country contacts. |
||
| Findex (Cambridge Scientific Abstracts) |
HF5415 .2.F55 Print. DIALOG |
Online trial and to purchase. | Annual. | Identifies the available English language market research reports, intelligence studies, competitor reports, and industry analyses from nearly 1,000 publishers around the world. | |
| MarketResearch.com (MarketResearch.com) Information Catalog |
Internet
|
http://www.marketresearch.com Browse by subject and publisher, free. |
Bi-monthly. | Reports from over 230 publishers. Online searches display abstracts and tables of contents. Print catalog for MarketResearch.com |
MARKETING AND REGULATORY RESOURCES
| Title and Publisher | Call # | Web Version | Frequency | Coverage | Tips/Notes |
| ISO Catalogue (International Organization for Standardization) |
T59 .A1I86 |
http://www.iso.org/iso/iso_catalogue.htm Searchable online catalog with purchase information. |
Annual with supplements |
Contains a list of all ISO standards and other publications. Search by keyword or by ISO standard number. In addition, there is a listing of standards withdrawn. | Online version has a list of standards organizations arranged by country with contact information and e-mail addresses. |
| Incoterms 2000 (International Chamber of Commerce) | K1029.3 .I525 1999 |
http://www.iccwbo.org/index.aspx?id=46830&terms=Incoterms Description,preambles and to purchase. |
Previous edition 1990. | Incoterms 2000 may be used to define the responsibilities of buyer and seller in international contracts effective from January 1, 2000. | |
| International Media Guide (SRDS) |
HF5826 .5.I571 |
To purchase |
Annual. |
Five sourcebooks for identifying international advertising opportunities in newspapers, business publications and consumer magazines. They list contact and rate information for over 20,000 titles from over 200 countries. | |
| Tradeshow Week Data Book, International ed. (Tradeshow Week) |
T394. T732 |
http://www.tradeshowweek.com Publisher. Show name, dates and contact info. |
Annual. | Detailed information on over 7,000 trade fairs and exhibitions around the world which are of national and international significance: exhibitor and attendee profiles, dates, locations, size, etc. | Country, chronological and industry indexes. |
CLIENTS, CONTACTS AND COMPETITORS - LISTS
| Title and Publisher | Call # | Web Version | Frequency | Coverage | Tips/Notes |
| International Directory of Importers series (Interdata) | CD-ROM HF 3012 .I58 |
To purchase. |
Annual. | North America, Middle East, Asia/Pacific, Europe, Africa, South/Central America. Comprehensive reference tool to 150,000 importing firms and import agents in 156 different countries. | |
| Key Officers of Foreign Service Posts (US Dept. of State) | JX1705 .A255 |
http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/111812.pdf Full text online. |
Annual. | Provides the names of key officers at Foreign Service posts with whom American business representatives would most likely have contact. | |
| Kompass series (Kompass) | CD-ROM and full Internet access. |
Register for limited access or subscribe for full access. |
Print and CD-ROMs annual. | 1.5 million companies, 23 million key product and service references in close to 70 countries: includes executive names, trademarks, brand names, number of employees, revenue and product categories. | |
| Major Companies Directories (Graham & Whiteside) | IN (Gale) Business/ Company Resource Center |
http://www.pharmsinfo.com/publisher Free major companies telephone book. |
Annual. | The Arab World, Latin America & the Caribbean, Africa South of the Sahara and other regional titles. Contact information, executives, description of business activities, brand names and trademarks, size and financial information | |
| World Business Directory (Gale) | HF54.U5 W667 |
Description and to purchase. |
Annual. | Contact information, industry and product data, brief financial and employment figures on nearly 140,000 businesses involved in international trade in more than 180 countries. | |
| Worldbase Company Information (Dun & Bradstreet) | Internet fee |
http://www.dnb.ca/alliances/sapcoinfo.html Description. |
Annual. | Company Lookup: Background information on more than 66 million companies across the globe, including the US. Global Marketing Lists: Create lists for marketing and company analysis. | |
| World Guide to Trade Associations (K.G. Saur) | Desk REF HD2421 .W67 |
Description and to purchase. |
1999, 5th edition. | A listing of about 22,000 associations from industry, trade, crafts and service sectors in 150 countries and territories. | English subject index. |
CLIENTS, CONTACTS AND COMPETITORS - NEWS
| Title and Publisher | Call # | Web Version | Frequency | Coverage | Tips/Notes |
F&S Index PROMT
General BusinessFile or Business & Company Resource Center |
Database.
Internet |
http://www.galegroup.com/index.htm
|
Weekly. Daily.
|
Provides one and two line summaries of articles from 2500 publications on companies, products, and global markets. 1000 indexed/700 full text titles from news sources covering company activities, industry trends, economic policies, emerging technologies and other market information. International company, industry, product and market information especially management techniques, financial earnings, economic climate, and product evaluations. |
|
| Investext | Internet | http://galenet.galegroup.com/servlet/BCRC?ste=26&aca=invr& srchtp=adv&locID=mnauduluth (password required) |
Daily. | Provides full text of company, industry, and geographic research reports written by analysts at investment banks, brokerage houses and consulting firms worldwide. | Part of General BusinessFile or Business & Company
Resource Center (Gale) |
| Reuters | Database. | http://www.reuters.com/ | Daily. | General financial news web site. |
SOCIO-CULTURAL FACTORS
| Title and Publisher | Call # | Web Version | Frequency | Coverage | Tips/Notes |
| Background Notes (U.S. Dept. Of State) | Included in country miscellany folder. | http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/ Full text online. |
Irregular. Some countries are currently unavailable. | Information on the land, people, government, political conditions, history, economy, and foreign relations of countries. Basic facts on international organizations. | |
| Country Studies/Area Handbooks (Library of Congress) | Varies by country. | http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/cshome.html Full text online. |
Books describe and analyze the historical setting and the cultural, social, economic, political and national security systems and institutions of 101 countries. | ||
| Europa World Year Book (Europa Publications) | Desk REF JN1.E85 | http://www.routledge.com/articles/book_of_the_month_for_ To see sample pages or to purchase. |
Annual. | Over 1,650 international organizations are profiled. Extensive essays on recent history, economics and politics of 250 countries and territories. Economic and demographic data. Directory of major government and private sector organizations. | |
| The Statesman's Yearbook (Palgrave Publishers) | Desk REF JA51.S7 | http://www.statesmansyearbook.com/ Description and purchase information. |
Annual. |
"Statistical and historical annual of the states of the world@. Current affairs, brief history, population, constitution/government, economic conditions, industries, international relations and trade, communications, education and social welfare. Map, flags and annual chronology of world events. | |
| World Factbook (U.S. Central Intelligence Agency) | Desk REF G122. U566a |
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/ Full text online. |
Annual. | Country and international organization profiles. Country profiles include map, geography, people, government, economic conditions, transportation data and communications infrastructure. | Conversion tables for weights and measures. Country data codes. |
CULTURE AND TRAVEL
| Title and Publisher | Call # | Web Version | Frequency | Coverage | Tips/Notes |
| Culturegrams (BYU) | Each country has its own #. |
To purchase. |
Annual. | Four page briefings that describe a nation's background, society, and highlight the people's daily living patterns, customs, courtesies, and lifestyles. |
|
| Electric Current Abroad (International Trade Administration) | TK12.E35 | http://kropla.com/electric2.htm Full text. |
Lists the characteristics of electric current available and the type of attachment plugs used in most countries. | ||
| Foreign Per Diem Rates (Department of State) |
Internet | http://www.state.gov/m/a/als/prdm/ Full text online. |
Monthly. | Maximum rates of per diem allowances for travel in foreign areas. Established by the Secretary of State, they apply to all U.S. Government employees and contractors. | |
| Runzheimer Guide to Daily Travel Prices : international locations (Runzheimer International) | Desk REF TX911 .3.R3 R86 |
http://www.travel.runzheimer.com/tmn/content/free/PreviewTMN/PreviewBenchmarkingDTP.aspx Sample and to purchase. |
Annual. | Profiles per diem (typical lodging, meal and transportation)
costs for 100 international cities. Used to approve, benchmark and
budget travel expenses. |
Last Updated: January 31, 2012
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Designed and Compiled |
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Pages maintained |
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The views and opinions expressed on this page are strictly those of the page author. The contents of this page have not been reviewed or approved by the University of Minnesota. Send Comments to: jvileta@d.umn.edu or use the Ask Jim form |