Madagascar Trade Data

Q1: What is Madagascar customs data?

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

Sample record: WORK LIGHT (HS 94054900, 202607) shipped from China (CN) to Madagascar, 378 Kg net weight, USD 393 declared value.

Q2: What are the unique advantages of Madagascar data?

Core features of this data set:
   1. French-language fields: descriptions are stored in the original language (e.g. Autres appareils d´eclairage en autres matieres)
   2. customs broker / agent fields: name and code (e.g. BOI SERVICE MG)
   3. contract value fields: 393.47 USD beside the customs value
   4. declaration-level price summary: totals and average unit prices for order-level verification

Q3: How frequently is the data updated?

The data is refreshed monthly and supports historical backtracking. The sample record is for month 202607 with a clearance date of 2026/7/31.

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: Autres appareils d´eclairage en autres matieres
   - Detailed product name: WORK LIGHT
   - 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 Madagascar data provide?

Multiple value systems are provided:
   USD: amount 393, weight-unit price 1.04093, quantity-unit price 19.67349
   CNY: total amount 2,666, weight-unit price 7.05385
   EUR: total amount 344.62, weight-unit price 0.9117
   contract value: 393.47 USD, unit price 19.67349
   exchange rate field: 4,285.69, the local conversion rate used for this declaration

Q6: What is HS code 94054900 in this data set?

HS code 94054900 corresponds to Autres appareils d´eclairage en autres matieres:
   - Code product description: Autres appareils d´eclairage en autres matieres
   - Detailed product name: WORK LIGHT, brand and specification model 270895349
   - Sub-industry: Furniture
   - Industry: Others

   In this sample the goods were declared by Madagascar importer: IMPORTATEUR/EXPORTATEUR OCCASIONNEL.

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: 378 Kg (= 0.378 metric ton)
   - Quantity: 20 ED
   - 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 Madagascar data to develop buyers?

Steps:
   1. Filter records where the madagascar importer is in Madagascar 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, declaration-level value summary)
   4. Look at which exporter they currently buy from, then pitch the same category

   Sample application: IMPORTATEUR/EXPORTATEUR OCCASIONNEL (999999999) imported WORK LIGHT from China (CN), 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 393 and USD weight-unit price 1.04093; CNY amount 2,666; EUR amount 344.62; contract value 393.47 USD
   2. Note the Incoterms (sample: FOB) so main carriage is excluded from the declared value
   4. Recalculate margin in the currency you actually settle in

   Sample application: "WORK LIGHT" declared under HS 94054900, 378 Kg, origin China (CN).

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

Steps:
   1. Group records by customs broker / agent, customs agent, or logistics company (BOI SERVICE MG)
   2. Count declaration volume and total net weight handled by each one
   3. Review the customs office and port used (sample: Antanimena Customs Office, Antananarivo / Antananarivo)
   4. Prioritize the brokers who already clear your product category

   Sample application: this declaration was cleared through BOI SERVICE MG (code 273-CAD).

Q11: How do I analyse import trends with Madagascar 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. Channel: compare customs offices, ports and brokers to see how flows split

   Sample application: the sample is a 202607 record (import), HS 94054900, 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 1.04093) with the same-indicator distribution on the same HS code
   2. Check weight consistency (net weight 378 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: no duty field in this sample; cross-check against the declaration average USD unit price by weight.