Definition

Noun 1. A person or company that brings goods or services into a country from abroad for sale. - An importer is an entity engaged in the commercial activity of purchasing products from foreign sources and introducing them into the domestic market.

Usage and Examples

• Basic Usage:

  • The company is a major importer of Italian olive oil. (The company's primary business is bringing Italian olive oil into its home country.)
  • As an importer of rare spices, he travels to Asia frequently. (His job involves sourcing and bringing rare spices from Asia.)

• In Business Context:

  • The new tariffs have significantly increased costs for every importer in the industry. (The taxes on imported goods affect all businesses that bring goods into the country.)
  • To become a successful importer, one must understand international trade regulations. (Operating this business requires knowledge of cross-border trade laws.)

Advanced Usage

• Economic Role:
  • An importer is a key agent in global supply chains, connecting foreign producers with domestic consumers and businesses.
  • In trade statistics, an "importer of record" is the legal entity responsible for ensuring goods comply with all laws and for paying required duties.

Variants and Related Words

• Import (verb/noun): The act of bringing in goods, or the goods themselves.
  • They import coffee from Brazil. (They bring coffee into the country from Brazil.)
• Importation (noun): The process or business of importing goods.
  • The importation of certain chemicals is restricted. (Bringing these chemicals into the country is controlled.)
• Import-Export (compound adjective): Describing businesses involved in both bringing goods in and sending goods out.
  • She works for an import-export firm.

Synonyms

• Merchant (specifically an import merchant)
• Trader (in the context of international trade)
• Buyer (from an international perspective)

Antonyms

• Exporter: A person or company that sends goods to another country for sale.

Noun

1. someone whose business involves importing goods from outside (especially from a foreign country)