In 2021, German customs seized counterfeit products with a total value of 315 million euros. This figure was released in the annual customs statistics published in early May. For comparison, the value of the confiscated goods in 2020 amounted to almost 239 million euros.

The fact that counterfeit products are increasingly becoming a problem is, above all, also illustrated by the sheer number of products seized. While just under 3.7 million goods were seized in 2020, this figure rose to 18.8 million in 2021, representing a five-fold increase! Customs authorities are reporting more and more counterfeit products in the computer, electronics, and clothing sectors.

A detailed breakdown including information on particularly affected industries and the counterfeits’ countries of origin can be found in the annual customs statistics, which can be downloaded free of charge as a PDF from the German Customs website.

The skyrocketing rise in counterfeit products once again drives home how essential reliable protection against counterfeits is for manufacturers and brand owners.

Image: Tom Fisk (Pexels)