How to Find New Suppliers Using Bill of Lading Data

Home / Blog / How to Find New Suppliers Using Bill of Lading Data
Sourcing a reliable supplier used to mean trade shows, referrals and guesswork. Today, Bill of Lading (BL) data lets you see real, verified shipments and go straight to the companies already exporting the product you need.

What Bill of Lading data shows

Every ocean shipment generates a bill of lading — a legal document listing the shipper (exporter), consignee (importer), product description, HS code, volume, ports and dates. Aggregated across millions of shipments, this becomes a searchable map of global trade.

A 4-step supplier search

  1. Search by product (HS code). Filter shipments for the exact commodity you source.
  2. Rank exporters by volume. High-volume, consistent shippers are usually established, capable suppliers.
  3. Check their buyers. If a supplier already ships to reputable importers, that is strong social proof.
  4. Get contact details. BL records include the shipper name and address so you can reach out directly.

Why it beats directories

Unlike B2B directories full of unverified listings, BL data is based on actual customs-recorded shipments. If a company appears, they are genuinely exporting. Explore our Bill of Lading database covering 140 countries to start your own supplier search.

Ready to explore real trade data?

Search Bill of Lading & customs data for 140 countries.

Browse the Database

More trade insights