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Business rated the work of the customs service the highest in the past decade

21/ 04/ 2025
  The integral score of the Customs Index has risen to 3.40 points out of a possible 5, marking the highest result in the history of the survey (compared to 3.24 in 2023). These are the findings of the new 2024 wave of the survey conducted by the European Business Association and DHL Express in Ukraine. Despite the growth, the Index remains in the neutral zone. View the presentation Two out of the three components of the Index showed improvement – namely the quality of customs services and the level of corruption. At the same time, the assessment of the Single Window system at customs slightly declined. The assessment of the quality of customs services and the professionalism of officials remains the lowest among the Index components – 3.08 points (up from 2.76 in 2023). The majority of respondents – 60% – consider the quality of customs services to be satisfactory. At the same time, the number of dissatisfied respondents has decreased: 14% rate the quality and professionalism as low, and 2% as very low (compared to 25% and 6% respectively last year). Meanwhile, 22% believe the quality is high, and 2% – very high. The corruption level received a score of 3.53 (up from 3.20 in 2023). While 53% believe the level of corruption has remained unchanged, 23% think it has slightly decreased, and 18% – significantly decreased. Only 6% believe that corruption at customs has worsened (compared to 14% last year). The Single Window system continues to receive the highest score among all components of the Index, despite a slight drop this year – 3.59 points (compared to 3.77 in 2023). Specifically, 45% rated the system as good, and 12% – very good. Another 33% consider it satisfactory. Negative ratings were given by 10% of this year’s respondents. The biggest complaints from businesses during customs clearance concern the control procedures of the State Service of Ukraine on Food Safety and Consumer Protection, as well as interactions with the customs valuation department. Currently, 60% of respondents reported problems with customs value adjustments. The number of companies facing this issue continues to grow year-on-year: 46% in 2023, and 37% in 2022. In addition, 39% of surveyed companies face additional customs inspections, 34% report delays without clear reasons, and 22% experience physical inspections with full unloading of goods. 38% reported problems with the reclassification of HS codes (compared to 27% last year). 70% of companies plan to obtain AEO (Authorised Economic Operator) status or simplified procedures. Meanwhile, 20% of respondents currently use the Common Transit Procedure (up from 14% last year), and 15% benefit from transit simplifications (previously only 4%). 30% of surveyed companies changed their place of customs clearance in the past year, although in 71% of cases, this was not related to any problems with customs procedures. “2024 has been a year of extremely active alignment of the customs sector with EU rules and standards. The Association Agreement Implementation Report shows a 30% improvement in customs-related obligations fulfilled over the past year. Businesses are noticing the changes and reforms, which is reflected in the rising Index score. However, the State Customs Service’s focus on EU integration reforms might explain the lack of sufficient attention to improving customer services for businesses, which has been highlighted by the satisfaction score of the Single Window system. We hope that more focus will be placed on improving and upgrading this system in 2025,” – commented Nataliia Artemchuk, Manager of the Tax and Customs Committees, European Business Association. “Any successful business relationship is built on mutual trust, respect, and a willingness to evolve in line with each party’s needs and interests. The growth of the Customs Index indicates that, despite challenging times, Ukrainian customs is continuing its development and confidently moving in the right direction,” – said Vasyl Mykhailov, Head of Operations, DHL Express Ukraine. For reference: The Customs Index has been conducted by the European Business Association since 2010. The integral score is based on three components: the level of corruption, the quality of customs services, and the performance of the Single Window system. The Index is measured annually. A score of 3 is considered neutral, and the maximum possible score is 5. The 2024 survey involved 50 customs experts from member companies of the Association and was conducted from 17 to 31 March 2025. The research partner is DHL Express in Ukraine.

The integral score of the Customs Index has risen to 3.40 points out of a possible 5, marking the highest result in the history of the survey (compared to 3.24 in 2023). These are the findings of the new 2024 wave of the survey conducted by the European Business Association and DHL Express in Ukraine. Despite the growth, the Index remains in the neutral zone.

View the presentation

Two out of the three components of the Index showed improvement – namely the quality of customs services and the level of corruption. At the same time, the assessment of the Single Window system at customs slightly declined.

The assessment of the quality of customs services and the professionalism of officials remains the lowest among the Index components – 3.08 points (up from 2.76 in 2023). The majority of respondents – 60% – consider the quality of customs services to be satisfactory. At the same time, the number of dissatisfied respondents has decreased: 14% rate the quality and professionalism as low, and 2% as very low (compared to 25% and 6% respectively last year). Meanwhile, 22% believe the quality is high, and 2% – very high.

The corruption level received a score of 3.53 (up from 3.20 in 2023). While 53% believe the level of corruption has remained unchanged, 23% think it has slightly decreased, and 18% – significantly decreased. Only 6% believe that corruption at customs has worsened (compared to 14% last year).

The Single Window system continues to receive the highest score among all components of the Index, despite a slight drop this year – 3.59 points (compared to 3.77 in 2023). Specifically, 45% rated the system as good, and 12% – very good. Another 33% consider it satisfactory. Negative ratings were given by 10% of this year’s respondents.

The biggest complaints from businesses during customs clearance concern the control procedures of the State Service of Ukraine on Food Safety and Consumer Protection, as well as interactions with the customs valuation department. Currently, 60% of respondents reported problems with customs value adjustments. The number of companies facing this issue continues to grow year-on-year: 46% in 2023, and 37% in 2022.

In addition, 39% of surveyed companies face additional customs inspections, 34% report delays without clear reasons, and 22% experience physical inspections with full unloading of goods. 38% reported problems with the reclassification of HS codes (compared to 27% last year).

70% of companies plan to obtain AEO (Authorised Economic Operator) status or simplified procedures. Meanwhile, 20% of respondents currently use the Common Transit Procedure (up from 14% last year), and 15% benefit from transit simplifications (previously only 4%).

30% of surveyed companies changed their place of customs clearance in the past year, although in 71% of cases, this was not related to any problems with customs procedures.

“2024 has been a year of extremely active alignment of the customs sector with EU rules and standards. The Association Agreement Implementation Report shows a 30% improvement in customs-related obligations fulfilled over the past year. Businesses are noticing the changes and reforms, which is reflected in the rising Index score. However, the State Customs Service’s focus on EU integration reforms might explain the lack of sufficient attention to improving customer services for businesses, which has been highlighted by the satisfaction score of the Single Window system. We hope that more focus will be placed on improving and upgrading this system in 2025,” – commented Nataliia Artemchuk, Manager of the Tax and Customs Committees, European Business Association.

“Any successful business relationship is built on mutual trust, respect, and a willingness to evolve in line with each party’s needs and interests. The growth of the Customs Index indicates that, despite challenging times, Ukrainian customs is continuing its development and confidently moving in the right direction,” – said Vasyl Mykhailov, Head of Operations, DHL Express Ukraine.

For reference:

The Customs Index has been conducted by the European Business Association since 2010.

The integral score is based on three components: the level of corruption, the quality of customs services, and the performance of the Single Window system. The Index is measured annually. A score of 3 is considered neutral, and the maximum possible score is 5.

The 2024 survey involved 50 customs experts from member companies of the Association and was conducted from 17 to 31 March 2025. The research partner is DHL Express in Ukraine.

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