Germany: Customs ramps up checks as non-EU parcel imports hit record levels

Germany’s customs authority handled a record volume of goods in 2025, driven largely by the rapid growth of ecommerce parcels arriving from third countries. The latest annual report shows that this surge is now leading to tighter controls on imported goods.

Ecommerce parcels push customs workload higher

The General Directorate of Customs presented its 2025 annual report on 12 May 2026 at Leipzig/Halle Airport, one of Europe’s major air freight hubs. Federal Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil and GZD President Dr. Armin Rolfink used the location to highlight the growing role of cross-border ecommerce in customs operations.

In 2025, German customs processed almost 790 million goods items with a total value of around €1.4 trillion. The biggest driver of the increase was the rising number of postal and courier shipments from outside the EU. In this category, which covers many ecommerce imports, customs handled around 192 million more items than in the previous year.

More controls for retailers importing from third countries

To manage the growing volume, customs is relying on digital clearance systems and more flexible staffing. The aim is to allow customs offices across Germany to support each other more efficiently when parcel flows increase.

For online retailers sourcing goods from non-EU countries, the message is clear: import flows are likely to face closer scrutiny. This may affect sellers working with overseas suppliers, marketplaces shipping directly to EU customers and businesses handling high volumes of low-value parcels.

Counterfeits, smuggling and illegal goods remain a priority

The report also shows that customs continues to focus on product counterfeiting and illegal imports. In 2025, officials seized 4.6 million counterfeit products with an estimated value of nearly €450 million.

Customs also confiscated around 69 tons of narcotics, 256 million cigarettes and approximately 7,500 illegal weapons. These figures underline why authorities are paying more attention to international parcel shipments, especially as ecommerce volumes continue to rise.

Customs revenue reaches €157 billion

Germany’s customs authority generated around €157 billion in revenue for the federal government and the EU in 2025. This included approximately €74 billion in import VAT, €65 billion in excise duties and around €6 billion in customs duties for the EU budget.

The Financial Control Unit for Undeclared Work also opened more than 98,200 criminal proceedings and over 52,100 administrative offence proceedings. The damage linked to undeclared work and illegal employment was estimated at about €675 million.

More staff and new tools planned

With responsibilities increasing, Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil announced that customs will receive 1,500 additional staff positions this year. The authority is also expected to gain new powers and technical tools to make its work more effective.

For ecommerce businesses, the trend points to a stricter import environment. As parcel volumes from third countries continue to grow, customs controls are becoming a more important part of cross-border online trade.