Importen

Importen refers to the act or quantity of goods and services brought into a country from abroad. In economics, imports are contrasted with exports, the goods and services sold to other countries. The level of imports influences consumer prices, domestic production, and the balance of payments. Exchange rates, income levels, and relative prices of foreign and domestic goods are key determinants. Tariffs, quotas, and other non-tariff barriers can limit or redirect imports, while rapid depreciation or appreciation of a currency can make imports more expensive or cheaper. Global supply chains and geopolitical developments also affect import patterns, including shifts toward diversification of suppliers and regional trade agreements.

The import process typically involves identifying a supplier, negotiating terms, arranging shipment, and clearing customs. Importers use contracts and terms of sale, such as incoterms, to allocate costs and responsibilities for transport, insurance, and risk. After delivery, goods are received, inspected, and recorded for accounting and taxation.

In computing and data handling, import refers to bringing external data or code into a program or environment. Common examples include importing a library or module in programming languages or loading data files (CSV, JSON) into a data analysis tool. Import functionality supports code reuse and interoperability but can introduce dependencies and versioning considerations.

See also: Import, Trade balance, Tariff, Incoterms, Data import, Module (computing).