Overview of the Trend Report Format Guide
The KOTRA Overseas Market Trend Report Format Guide is a practical writing framework designed to standardize the quality and consistency of overseas market news prepared by trade offices. It consolidates report structure, writing standards, data citation rules, visualization guidelines, and a quality checklist into a working reference that can be applied immediately in day-to-day reporting.
Standard Report Structure
A trend report is organized into five core sections. Each section serves a distinct purpose and follows clear writing criteria so readers can identify the main findings quickly. In particular, the opening executive summary should be concise enough for a decision-maker to understand the report's main message in roughly 30 seconds.
Data Citation Rules
The credibility of a report depends on the accuracy of its data citations. All statistical figures should identify their source explicitly, and the most recent available data should be prioritized. When citing secondary material, the original source should be checked whenever possible.
| Type | Priority | Example Sources | Citation Format | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Official Statistics | Priority 1 | BBS, Bangladesh Bank, WTO | Institution name (year) | Use the latest available year first |
| International Organization Reports | Priority 2 | World Bank, IMF, ADB | Institution, report title (year) | Check methodology |
| Industry Research | Priority 3 | Euromonitor, Statista | Institution (year), report title | Confirm scope of paid-data citation |
| Local Media | Priority 4 | The Daily Star, Dhaka Tribune | Media outlet (publication date) | Cross-check required |
| Interviews and Surveys | Supplementary | Local buyers, industry experts | Interview date and source details | Apply anonymity where needed |
Visualization Guidelines
Effective visualization substantially improves both readability and persuasive power. A deep-dive report should include at least two visual elements such as charts, tables, or infographics, and the format should be selected according to the nature of the data.