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- A ten-digit HS commodity number: In our case, we're searching for hang gliders which has a 10-digit Harmonized System number 8801100030 so we would put "8801100030" (without the quotes).
- Note: Do not include any periods in the commodity number.
- Note: Some publications show an eleventh digit (or "check digit"). Only enter the first ten characters of the code.
- A six-digit HS commodity number: These should be entered as the number with the letters "HS" in front. In our case, you would enter "HS880110" (without the quotes).
- Note: All trade data are reported on a ten-digit, not six-digit, basis. As such, you may get more than one commodity number back when you enter a search like this. If you want the six-digit total, you'll have to download all of the commodities shown and aggregate them on your own.
- The commodity description: Typically, you'd enter only a partial description, typically one word (like "polyurethane"). If you have more than one word to enter, include "and" between the words. In our case, you would enter "hang and glider" (without the quotes).
- Note: Commodity descriptions are often abbreviated. If you don't find what you want, try different words or drop one of the words you searched for.
- The SIC number: If you know the four-digit Standard Industrial Classification number (a US-government construct), you can enter that. You need to include the letters "SIC" immediately in front of the four digits. In our case, you would enter "SIC3721" (without the quotes). Since you are limited to the number of "hits" that will be returned for any search, you may not be able to see all of the ten-digit HS commodities that are valid for that given SIC number.
Note: All trade data are reported on a Harmonized System, not SIC, basis. As such, you will need to aggregate individual 10-digit data files to get an SIC total.
Note: The SIC search is primarily made available as a way of finding some commodities; it will not be useful is all cases.