The counterfeit and pirated products move US$ 467 billion per year, which represents 2.3% of global imports, according to estimates from the OECD (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development) and EUIPO (European Union Intellectual Property Office). These data are part of the study "Global Trade in Counterfeit Products Outlook 2025", published by the two organizations, based on customs seizures carried out in 2021, the latest available data.
The OECD economist Morgane Gaudiau, co-author of the document, states that these numbers represent only the tip of the iceberg, as the actual extent of the phenomenon is unknown. She highlights that the value of hundreds of billions of dollars in fake products tells only part of the story.
The study also shows that criminal groups are increasingly agile to quickly copy articles with high global demand and infiltrate the same channels that have made trade more accessible.
