System and method for exporting single-instance data. A computer system includes a host configured to select a dataset having a first attribute and convey a request to a catalog to export the dataset. The first attribute is a data selection identifying a source of the dataset and a point in time at which data objects were sent from the data selection to the single-instance storage pool. The catalog identifies data objects whose attributes match the first attribute and conveys a request to a single-instance storage pool to retrieve the data objects. In response, the single-instance storage pool associates data segments with each of the data objects, re-assembles each of the data objects from its associated data segments, and conveys the re-assembled data objects to the catalog. The catalog converts the received re-assembled data objects into the dataset.