Cities Skylines: Commodities view Cities: Skylines Guide
Last update: 04 May 2020
This view will color all buildings in the city that import or export commodities outside city borders.
Industry produces from four resource types (Mines, Oil, Food and Wood) different goods called commodities. Shops in your city need those commodities to distribute them among your citizens.
If you have a developed industry, then he probably creates surplus of goods and exports them outside the city. But it you have small industry or have a directed industry and no general industry, then shops will import commodities from outside.
A good idea is to have slightly more of directed industry (resource one) than general industry, but you shouldn't overdo it, as too intensive exploitation might quickly use all precious resources, and a situation where there is no import to your city is in practice impossible.