Discover the second edition of the customs section of the barometer carried out jointly by Eurogroup Consulting and AUTF to collect and analyze shippers' customs managers' perceptions of the French customs ecosystem.
This survey, which covered the year 2024, provides an overview of how customs managers perceive :
- The quality of relations with players in the customs ecosystem;
- Customs formalities and procedures ;
- Controls and litigation ;
- The customs function within the company.
A tense geopolitical context...
As in the previous year, this assessment took place in a complex geopolitical environment, requiring constant monitoring, particularly in the context of the russian-ukrainian war and sanctions implemented by the European Union against Russia.
...but also major changes
Following on from 2023, the year was also marked by the development of the information systems (IS) at the European level and the continued implementation of the Border Carbon Adjustment Mechanism (BCAM).
Fairly average overall satisfaction
Once again this year, shippers' satisfaction with their customs environment appears to be average, with an overall score of 5.6/10. Only relations with RDEs and the Customs Administration scored above average.
While customs managers' level of satisfaction with RDE service providers (excluding express carriers) is very good, with an average of 7.6/10, relations with express carriers remain a notable point of dissatisfaction (4.2/10).
The quality of relations with the Customs Administration is judged satisfactory, with an average score of 6.6/10, while the perception of control and litigation receives an average satisfaction score of 5.4/10.
Finally, the two themes concerning collection of customs formalities and procedures (average 4.9/10), and the role of customs manager (average of 5.1/10) obtained more mixed results, which can be partly explained by apprehension and the difficulties the introduction of new regulations (not just customs regulations), international sanctions and so on.
Against this complex geopolitical and regulatory backdropthe shippers' customs function appears to be better and better understood and occupy a place increasingly strategic in the flow of supply chain international.
Fairly average overall satisfaction
Quality of relations with RDE service providers
Shippers' ratings were very good on average, but the dispersion of responses was greater than last year. This may be a sign of a deterioration in the quality of the relationship with these RDE service providers, strongly felt by some of the respondents.
Quality of relations with express suppliers
This aspect continues to be a source of dissatisfaction for Shippers, with an average score of less than 5, and an average score down on last year's panel (-0.4 points).
Quality of relations with customs authorities
This year's panel averages are up on last year's panel in all areas tested, with the exception of confidence in future regulatory developments (down -0.2 points).
In addition, the theme of advice and support provided by the customs administration received a satisfactory score of 8, the best score in the entire survey, and a significant increase over the previous year (+1 point).
Customs formalities and procedures
The average remains low (4.9/10). However, the simplification of customs procedures, which helps to streamline operations, saw an increase of 0.3 points on last year's panel.
Perception of controls and litigation
The average responses obtained are close to, or even below, the overall average. The shift from goods inspections to "ex-post" inspections seems to require more resources from shippers.
Customs manager's role within the company
This role seems to be well understood and well positioned, although new customs regulations (CBAM/MACF, deforestation, etc.), with an average score of 2.9/10, highlight implementation difficulties within companies.
