Hi chubby711711-ga,
Here's the information I described:
First, let me describe how the data below was gathered. This will
give you some idea as to its validity and allow you to perform your
own searches for similar types of information in the future.
Imports are categorized in many ways, in many sub-classifications.
The most specifically relevant to your information request can be
found in the 10 digit HTS (Harmonized Tariff Schedule) listings. The
Tariff Information Center provides detailed information on the HTS,
and can be found here:
http://www.usitc.gov/tata/hts/bychapter/index.htm
If you visit this site and search (upper left corner of the page) for
"unfilled gelatin capsules," a page of results will pop up. The first
result is here:
http://hotdocs.usitc.gov/docs/tata/hts/bychapter/0500C96.pdf
This document is 11 pages long and contains lots of various materials
listed under Chapter 96 (Miscellaneous Manufactured Articles) within
the 2005 HST catalog. Scroll down to page 2 and you will find
"Unfilled gelatin capsules."
From this source, the HST 10 digit classification code for this item
is 9602.00.10.40. Could the government make this any harder?! At
least the catalog is now online.
So... now we know how the code that the US Government uses to track
imports and exports of these unfilled gelatin capsules. How do we get
the actual data?
___________________
The US Interactive Tariff and Trade Dataweb, provided by the US
International Trade Commission, allows access to import and export
data using various classification systems (such as the HST system
mentioned above) for the years 1989 to the present. The most current
data in the database is May, 2005. The main site can be found here:
http://dataweb.usitc.gov/
To access the database, you must first register (free) at this page:
http://dataweb.usitc.gov/scripts/user_set.asp
After you register, log in. This will take you to the first query
page. Select the following: US Imports for Consumption, Quick Query,
Current US Trade. Then click "Proceed with Query."
On the next, somewhat complicated page, you can tell the database
exactly what data you're looking for. Starting from the upper left
and going down each column, here are the suggested values that I used
to obtain the data below:
"Customs Value"
2003, 2004, 2005(YTD)
Select HTS (see above) and type in 9602001040 (the HTS code for the
unfilled gelatin capsules)
you can't simply type in the text of what you're looking for -
you must know the code, which is why I explained these
in the initial portion of the answer.
"All Countries"
"All Country sub-codes"
[back to top of second column]
"Actual"
"Annual + Year-to-Date"
"Aggregate all Commodities"
"Display All Countries Separately"
"Aggregate all Import Programs together"
"Aggregate all Extended Import Programs Together"
Then click "Proceed to Next Step"
-----------
Now you have to tell the site how you would like the data displayed.
This is somewhat your own preference. Here are my suggestions:
Sort in Descending order by "Customs Value"
Show All Records
Display percent change
Sort on 2005 Year-to-Date
Total records: 500
Display Grid
display key variable names: On the first line of each group
Enable sub-totals
Font size: 3
After great perseverance, you have at last made it to the final step:
Click on Run Report. You should be greeted with nicely displayed
table showing the customs values of imported unfilled gelatin capsules
for each country sorted on the current 2005 Year-to-Date (up to May)
imports, as well as data for the prior 3 years and the percent changes
from 2004 to the current 2005 YTD values. At the bottom, you will
find the totals for each year.
To try out different displays or searches, the simplest method is to
hit the Back button once or twice and try some new settings. The
reports run very quickly.
Although not as nicely formatted as the online database tables, I have
provided the output of the report run that I have described in detail
above. Due to the problems with different fonts being used on any
given computer, the table may be somewhat difficult to read. I have
reformatted the data below with spaces so that it would be easy to
import into Excel or a database if you should wish. Unfortunately,
there is no way for me to upload a PDF of the file for you to simply
download.
============================================================
HTS - 9602001040: UNFILLED GELATIN CAPSULES
Customs Value by Customs Value
For ALL Countries
U.S. Imports For Consumption
Annual + Year-To-Date Data from Jan - May
2003 2004
2004 YTD 2005 YTD Percent Change
Country
YTD2004 - YTD2005
In Actual Dollars
Mexico 28,678,170 31,551,705
13,946,282 13,502,810 -3.2%
Canada 11,071,840 12,495,342
6,465,057 5,283,238 -18.3%
Korea 8,469,384 7,925,323
3,212,980 3,415,490 6.3%
India 8,177,100 7,236,699
3,776,394 2,322,654 -38.5%
Colombia 4,884,338 3,327,212
1,784,053 1,825,102 2.3%
Venezuela 1,816,414 1,079,018
416,022 767,820 84.6%
Belgium 1,310,733 834,561
270,383 490,425 81.4%
Taiwan 1,490,005 1,400,985
807,768 389,435 -51.8%
Spain 93,570 114,903
3,575 316,622 8,756.6%
China 1,341,443 1,052,532
453,354 287,121 -36.7%
Germany 259,394 1,805,041
1,551,773 264,039 -83.0%
Bangladesh 235,496 238,308
165,915 136,195 -17.9%
France 322,944 546,603
353,936 100,184 -71.7%
Japan 163,390 331,447
313,947 71,725 -77.2%
Indonesia 208,192 113,940
78,390 52,566 -32.9%
Italy 31,717
21,435 9,300 19,366
108.2%
United Kingdom 51,616 75,019
5,460 6,745 23.5%
Argentina 0
0 0 2,138
N/A
Andorra 0
0 0 0
N/A
Ireland 0
0 0 0
N/A
Netherlands 0
0 0 0
N/A
South Africa 0
0 0 0
N/A
Switzerland 20,580 2,146
2,146 0 -100.0%
Ukraine 0
0 0 0
N/A
Sweden 0
0 0 0
N/A
Philippines 0
0 0 0
N/A
Kenya 0
0 0 0
N/A
Israel 0
12,000 0 0
N/A
Hong Kong 0
0 0 0
N/A
Brazil 0
0 0 0
N/A
Total 68,626,326 70,164,219
33,616,735 29,253,675 -13.0%
~~~~~~~~~~
Sources: Data on this site have been compiled from tariff and trade
data from the U.S. Department of Commerce and the U.S. International
Trade Commission.
===========================================================
I hope this was useful. Best of luck in your endeavor.
-welte-ga |
