Imports Of Fishery Products: There are two methods for tracking imports. "General" imports are recorded when the commodity enters the country. Imports for "consumption" which are the data maintained in our data base are a combination of entries into the U.S. for immediate consumption and withdrawals from Customs bonded warehouses. These data reflect the actual entry into U.S. consumption channels of commodities that originated outside the United States.

Exports Of Fishery Products: Exports may include merchandise of both domestic and foreign origin. Census defines exports of "domestic" merchandise to include commodities which are grown, produced, or manufactured in the United States. For statistical purposes, domestic exports also include commodities of foreign origin which have been changed in the U.S. from the form in which they were imported, or which have been enhanced in value by further manufacture in the Unites States.

Re-Exports Of Fishery Products: Re-exports of "foreign" products are commodities which have entered the U.S. as imports and not sold, which, at the time of re-export, are in substantially the same condition as when imported. Items imported for sale in the U.S. but later resold overseas, however, are recorded as exports of domestic goods rather than as re-exports.

Exactly what are the dollars? For exports and re-exports it is the f.a.s. (free alongside ship) value defined as the value at the port of export, based on the transaction price including inland freight, insurance and other charges incurred in placing the merchandise alongside the carrier. It excludes the cost of loading the merchandise, freight, insurance, and other charges or transportation costs beyond the port of exportation.

For Imports it is the Customs value. This is generally defined as the price actually paid or payable for merchandise when sold for exportation to the United States, excluding U.S. import duties, freight, insurance and other charges incurred in bringing the merchandise to the United States. (This value approximates f.a.s. value.)