More than half of the total value of counterfeit goods seized around the world are shipped by sea, according to an OECD-EUIPO report published on 22 February

Some of the key findings in the report were:

• Containerships carried 56% of the total value of seized counterfeits in 2016.
• The People’s Republic of China was the largest provenance economy for container shipments, making up 79% of the total value of maritime containers containing fakes and seized worldwide.
• India, Malaysia, Mexico, Singapore, Thailand, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates were also among the top provenance economies for counterfeit and pirated goods traded worldwide.
• Between 2014 and 2016, 82% of the seized value of counterfeit perfumes and cosmetics by customs authorities worldwide, 81% of the value of fake footwear and 73% of the value of customs seizures of fake foodstuff and toys and games concerned sea shipments.
• Over half of containers transported in 2016 by ships from economies known to be major sources of counterfeits entered the European Union through Germany, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom.
• There are also some EU countries, such as Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece and Romania, with relatively low volumes of containers trade in general, but with a high level of imports from counterfeiting-intense economies.

The full report, and other relevant information, can be downloaded from the OECD website here.

Analysis from the MARQUES Anti-Counterfeiting and Parallel Trade Team:

The increase of transportation of counterfeit or infringing products via sea containers is concerning. Although Customs is committing time and money on stopping these shipments at the border, limited resources and more efficient hiding of these products give rise to belief that actual numbers are likely to be higher.

The report shows that brand owners should strongly support Customs in all efforts in fighting against counterfeits. It can also help brand owners in their internal discussions on the importance of more efficient tracking and tracing to enable Customs in their fight against counterfeit.