The most valuable signal in customs data: a buyer with multiple suppliers
One data pattern predicts a new supplier's success better than anything else. We explain how we measure it and why it works.
New York, Savannah or Los Angeles: where your container should arrive
The choice of port affects shipping cost, transit time and ultimately sales success too. An overview of the U.S. gateways for European goods.
Seasonality in US imports: when is the right time to pitch
Import flows breathe in a yearly rhythm. Those who know the rhythm time their sales work correctly and avoid waiting for nothing.
Exporting plastics to the USA: where the small manufacturer wins
You will not beat Asia on the price of raw plastic. But in technical parts, specialty films and small batches, the European manufacturer has a clear edge.
Metalwork and CNC subcontracting: the USA is looking for European workshops
US industry has depended on Asian subcontracting for years and is now looking for balance. European workshops are among the winners of that search.
Paper and packaging: a quiet but steady export market
The packaging industry does not shine in headlines, but in customs data it is one of the most stable flows between Europe and the USA.
Price negotiations with a US buyer: five rules that protect your margin
The US buyer negotiates in a friendly but hard way. We describe the rules that help protect the price without losing the deal.
Prepayment, letter of credit or open account: how to protect your money in a US deal
The first deal with a new US customer is always a question of trust. We describe the ladder of payment terms that experienced exporters use.
Does an Estonian exporter need a warehouse in the USA? Usually not right away
A US warehouse seems like a sign of serious presence. Often, however, it is a premature cost. Let's look at when a warehouse pays off and what the interim options are.
Amazon or B2B wholesale: two different businesses that should not be mixed
Many Estonian manufacturers start the USA with Amazon and are disappointed. We explain which path suits which business.
Your own brand or private label: an honest calculation for the US market
Your own trademark swells with pride, making another's trademark feeds the factory. On the US front this choice is worth making with a cool head.
Five mistakes the Estonian exporter repeats on the US front
We have seen dozens of US attempts up close. The mistakes recur with embarrassing precision. Here they are, so that you need not repeat them.
How to track competitors in US customs data
Your competitor's US business is more public than they think. We explain what their shipments reveal and how to use it ethically.
Chocolate and confectionery: a sweet niche growing in the USA
European confectionery is a lasting success story in the USA, and the premium segment is growing faster than the market as a whole. Let's look at how to enter it.
2025 in review: five lessons from EU-US trade flows
Summing up the year's data, five clear lessons emerge that should shape every Estonian exporter's 2026 plan.
Ceramics and building tiles: the US renovation wave feeds imports
US home renovation is a huge, steady market, and European tile is a mark of quality there. An overview of the category and the ways to enter.
Quarterly review: Q4 2025 ended the year strong
The final quarter of the year brought record pre-Christmas wave volumes and clear signals about 2026 procurement plans.
Texas: the size of a country, as demanding as a client
If Texas were a country, it would be the world's eighth-largest economy. Let's look at what that market buys from Estonian producers and how to enter it.
California: the largest market, the highest bar
California is the world's fifth-largest economy and the most demanding consumer market in the USA. It is worth going there deliberately, not first.
Florida: a US market and a gateway to Latin America at once
Florida's imports grow faster than the US average, and through Miami goods also reach the Caribbean and South America.