The EUIPO and OECD have published a new report, ‘Trends in Trade in Counterfeit and Pirated Goods’. It updates analysis published in 2016.

The latest report estimates the value of the international trade in counterfeit and pirated goods to be up to €460 billion. This compares with an estimate of €338 billion in the 2016 report.

In the EU, 6.8% of all imports from third countries are now estimated to be counterfeit and pirated goods, up from 5% in the 2016 report.

The full report, executive summary and infographics are available on EUIPO’s website in various languages. The main findings include:

• In 2016, the volume of international trade in counterfeited and pirated products could amount to as much as USD 509 billion (EUR 460 billion). This represents up to 3.3% of world trade.
• The previous OECD EUIPO study, which relied on the same methodology, estimated that up to 2.5% of world trade was in counterfeit and pirated goods in 2013, equivalent to up to USD 461 billion (EUR 338 billion).
• In 2016, imports of counterfeit and pirated products into the EU amounted to as much as EUR 121 billion (USD 134 billion), which represents up to 6.8% of EU imports, against 5% of EU imports in 2013.
• Companies and businesses most affected by counterfeiting and piracy continue to be primarily based in OECD countries such as the United States, France, Italy, Switzerland, Germany, Japan, Korea and the United Kingdom.
• However, a growing number of companies registered in high income non-member economies, such as Singapore and Hong Kong are becoming targets.
• Customs seizures detailed in the report indicate the main countries and regions from which counterfeit and pirate goods include China, Hong Kong, the UAE, Turkey, Singapore, Thailand, India and Malaysia.

The report uses data from nearly half a million customs seizures from international enforcement agencies including the World Customs Organization, the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Taxation and Customs Union and the United States Department of Homeland Security. The datasets are composed of information collected and processed by customs officers.