Benin Trade Data

Q1: What is Benin customs data?

Benin customs data covers the import trade records published by Benin Customs. Each record is one complete customs declaration line and contains the parties, the product, the shipment route and the declared values.

Sample record: Lampes de chevet, lampes de bureau et lampadaires d'interieur, électriques (HS 940520, 202512) shipped from Togo (TG) to Benin, 339 Kg net weight, USD 459.23 declared value.

Q2: What are the unique advantages of Benin data?

Core features of this data set:
   1. French-language fields: descriptions are stored in the original language (e.g. Lampes de chevet, lampes de bureau et lampadaires d'int)
   2. local-currency price fields (XOF): amount, weight-unit price and quantity-unit price (e.g. 257,281)
   3. duty and valuation fields: Duty 39,403 (XOF)

Q3: How frequently is the data updated?

The data is refreshed monthly and supports historical backtracking. The sample record is for month 202512 with a clearance date of 2025/12/31.

Q4: How should the French-language product fields be used?

French is used in local trade documents, so the product text is stored in the original language:
   - French product description: Lampes de chevet, lampes de bureau et lampadaires d'interieur, électriques
   - Detailed product name (French): Lampes de chevet, lampes de bureau et lampadaires d'interieur, électriques
   - Use: search with French keywords instead of English ones, and reuse the official wording on invoices and customs paperwork to avoid classification disputes

Q5: Which currencies and value fields does Benin data provide?

Multiple value systems are provided:
   USD: amount 459.23, weight-unit price 1.35467, quantity-unit price -
   CNY: total amount 3,235, weight-unit price 9.54406
   EUR: total amount 392.22, weight-unit price 1.157
   West African CFA franc (XOF): amount 257,281, weight-unit price 758.941, quantity-unit price -

Q6: What is HS code 940520 in this data set?

HS code 940520 corresponds to Lampes de chevet, lampes de bureau et lampadaires d'interieur, électriques:
   - Code product description: -
   - Detailed product name: Lampes de chevet, lampes de bureau et lampadaires d'interieur, électriques
   - Sub-industry: Furniture
   - Industry: Others

   In this sample the goods were declared by Benin importer: ABOU GNON TCHA TCHEDRE MAD CARSTOP E/N° 84/19.

Q7: What do the weight and quantity fields mean?

Weight and quantity fields are recorded separately, and unit prices are derived from each basis:
   - Gross weight: not published
   - Net weight: 339 Kg (= 0.339 metric ton)
   - Quantity: not published
   - Take care: compare unit prices only on the same basis - weight-unit prices and quantity-unit prices are not interchangeable

Q8: How do I use Benin data to develop buyers?

Steps:
   1. Filter records where the benin importer is in Benin and the HS code matches your product line
   2. De-duplicate buyers by importer company code
   3. Grade each buyer by purchase frequency and value (month, USD amount)
   4. Look at which exporter they currently buy from, then pitch the same category

   Sample application: ABOU GNON TCHA TCHEDRE MAD CARSTOP E/N° 84/19 (-) imported Lampes de chevet, lampes de bureau et lampadaires d'interieu from Togo (TG), so similar products can be pitched to the same buyer profile.

Q9: How do I build a pricing or cost model with this data?

Steps:
   1. Extract the value fields: USD amount 459.23 and USD weight-unit price 1.35467; local-currency amount 257,281 XOF; CNY amount 3,235; EUR amount 392.22
   2. Note the Incoterms (sample: not stated) to know which cost elements are inside the declared value
   3. Add duty and tax from the tax fields (Duty 39,403 (XOF)) to move from customs value to landed cost
   4. Recalculate margin in the currency you actually settle in

   Sample application: "Lampes de chevet, lampes de bureau et lampadaires d'interieu" declared under HS 940520, 339 Kg, origin Togo (TG).

Q10: How do I screen clearance channels and logistics routes?

Steps:
   1. Read the transport mode and entry point of each record (sample: - via BUREAU DE LA RAFFINERIE)
   2. Group by origin country to see which corridor your competitors use
   3. Compare declared unit prices between corridors

   Sample application: goods entered from Togo (TG) at BUREAU DE LA RAFFINERIE.

Q11: How do I analyse import trends with Benin data?

Analysis dimensions:
   1. Time: aggregate month, USD amount, net weight and record count using the month and clearance date fields
   2. Origin: compare country of origin and exporter country shares
   3. Product: rank HS codes, sub-industry and industry by value
   4. Supplier: profile the main exporters and their declared unit prices

   Sample application: the sample is a 202512 record (import), HS 940520, which can be used as one data point in a monthly trend line.

Q12: How do I screen price anomalies and audit declared value?

Screening method:
   1. Compare the line-level unit price (USD weight-unit price 1.35467) with the same-indicator distribution on the same HS code
   2. Check weight consistency (net weight 339 Kg against the declaration-level weight where available)
   3. Flag records whose values are reported as 0 or whose duty is fully exempted, and exclude them from price averages
   4. Manually review outliers that deviate far from the category median

   Sample: Duty 39,403 (XOF).