End-Use: Trade Term of the Month

By: Terri Long

The Foreign Trade Division references several different commodity classifications throughout its products and services. While most exporters are familiar with the Schedule B statistical classification (also commonly referred to as the Harmonized System), many of the other classifications are not as widely known.

The March Trade Term of the Month is End-Use. End-use is a commodity classification system that identifies merchandise based on principal use rather than the physical characteristics of the merchandise. There are six principal categories:

• Foods, Feeds & Beverages
• Industrial Supplies
• Capital Goods
• Automotive Vehicles, etc.
• Consumer Goods
• Other Goods

A passenger car, for example, would be classified under the Automotive Vehicles category.

End-use codes are assigned by the Bureau of Economic Analysis and used in developing seasonally adjusted and constant dollar totals. Exhibit Six of the U.S. International Trade in Goods & Services Report (FT900) reports the Exports and Imports of Goods by Principal End-Use Category published on a monthly and year-to-date basis. At the Foreign Trade Division, we produce a graph of U.S. Trade by End-Use each month: Click here

For more information about End-Use or other commodity classifications, please visit the Guide to Foreign Trade Statistics. You can also find End-use and other trade terms in our Definitions page.