In 2025, thanks to the joint efforts of customs authorities in the European Union (EU), market surveillance authorities and police services, more than 196 million counterfeit items, with an estimated value of �6.3 billion, were intercepted overall. This volume is 67% higher than in 2024 and 29% above the previous record set in 2023.

Most detention cases by EU customs authorities took place in express courier and postal consignments, typically related to e-commerce. Customs face increasing challenges due to the growing volume of goods entering the EU through e-commerce, combined with fragmented supply chains and diverse transport methods. This makes identifying and intercepting counterfeit goods increasingly difficult.

In 2025, customs authorities from 7 Member States generated 90% of the volume and value of counterfeit goods detained. Romania, Bulgaria, Italy, the Netherlands, Germany, France and Belgium accounted for 90% of the total volume of items detained, while Spain, Germany, the Netherlands, France, Belgium, Greece and Poland were responsible for 90% of the total estimated value.

Mainland China; Hong Kong, China; and T�rkiye remained the most prominent places of provenance for counterfeit goods.

While sea cargo remained the primary mode of transport for the detained counterfeit articles at the EU border in terms of value, road transport surpassed it for the first time in terms of number of articles detained. However, most detention cases by EU customs authorities took place in express courier and postal consignments, typically related to e-commerce.

Trademarks were the most frequently infringed intellectual property rights among the detained goods, followed by designs.

 

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