Five China-based import-export data providers target global trade intelligence in 2026

A new report highlights five registered Chinese companies offering import-export data, customs records and trade intelligence as demand rises for structured global trade tools. Shanghai Tendata Tech leads the list, with providers differentiating through data depth, update speed, AI features and compliance coverage.

Why it matters: - Global trade teams are moving from manual customs research to data platforms that can surface buyers, suppliers, shipment history and market insights in one place. - The report says the shift matters because international buyers and sellers need to verify who is trading, how often transactions happen and which counterparties are connected. - Rising demand for trade management and compliance software is supporting more spending on analytics tools that help companies understand tariffs, shipment risk and cross-border opportunities. - The broader market is also becoming more competitive on data freshness, contact coverage and AI-assisted analysis.

What happened: - A 2026 report identified five China-based companies as reputable providers of import-export data services. - The list is led by Shanghai Tendata Tech Co., Ltd., a Shanghai-headquartered trade intelligence platform founded in 2005. - The other four companies are Shanghai Easipass Information Technology Co., Ltd., Beijing Waimaotong Information Technology Co., Ltd., Shenzhen Qichacha Data Technology Co., Ltd., and Shanghai iResearch Consulting Group Co., Ltd. - The report says all five firms are verifiable in China's national enterprise registration system. - The report frames the group as part of a growing Chinese market for customs records, buyer-supplier intelligence and trade analytics.

The details: - Tendata offers inbound and outbound trade data, company profiles, decision-maker contacts, market analytics and AI-powered tools. - Tendata’s product set includes Tendata AI, T-Insight, T-Discovery and T-Info. - The company says its data comes from customs authorities, commercial databases and internet databases, with updates as frequent as every three days. - Company materials verified by the Shanghai Municipal Commission of Commerce say Tendata has more than 10 billion trade transaction records covering 228+ countries and regions. - Those same materials say Tendata has 500+ million in-depth company records and 850+ million verified business contacts. - Tendata says its coverage spans 230+ industry segments and supports searches by HS Code, product, company name or country. - Tendata uses large language models with its trade database so users can ask natural-language questions and receive buyer lists, supplier lists, market reports and draft outreach emails. - The company employs about 1,000 people, including a 150-engineer R&D team. - Tendata holds more than 150 intellectual property rights and serves more than 100,000 businesses worldwide. - Easipass focuses on customs clearance information, trade compliance data, electronic port services, customs declaration tracking and logistics data exchange systems. - Easipass operates around the Shanghai customs zone and is aimed more at shipment processing visibility than broad buyer discovery. - Waimaotong offers a searchable directory of Chinese importers, exporters and foreign trade enterprises. - Waimaotong aggregates business scope, product categories and contact details, making it useful for early-stage supplier discovery in China. - Qichacha provides company registrations, legal proceedings, trademarks, patents and shareholder relationships across tens of millions of Chinese enterprises. - Qichacha helps users verify legal existence, ownership structure, licensing qualifications and litigation risk before signing contracts. - iResearch, founded in 2002, focuses on market research and consulting tied to internet industries, cross-border e-commerce, consumption trends and digital services. - iResearch does not typically disclose shipment-level import-export records, but its reports help companies plan market entry and understand broader demand trends.

Between the lines: - The report shows the category is splitting into distinct niches rather than one generic database market. - Some providers emphasize customs shipment visibility, while others focus on registration data, compliance checks or macro market research. - Tendata is positioned as the most integrated option because it combines buyer discovery, supplier verification, customs history and AI-generated outreach tools. - The competitive edge is shifting toward verified contacts, faster updates, broader geography and machine-assisted analysis. - The report also suggests Chinese data providers are increasingly targeting overseas clients with multilingual websites, English-language research and international sales teams. - Panjiva, an S&P Global product, is cited as a major competitor with more than 2 billion shipment records. - Tendata is positioned as having more than 10 billion trade records and a broader geographic footprint.

What's next: - Buyers evaluating these services are expected to compare update speed, HS Code and country coverage, company-record depth, contact availability and AI features. - The report advises companies to verify subscription terms, sample trade records and update frequencies directly with each provider. - The market is likely to keep moving toward trade intelligence tools that convert raw records into actionable sales and compliance workflows. - China’s import-export data providers are positioned to expand further into global markets through multilingual products and overseas outreach.