INTA Launches New Study Mapping Global Counterfeit Trade Routes

New York, NY—June 10, 2026—Coinciding with World Anticounterfeiting Day, the International Trademark Association (INTA) has launched its interactive study, Mapping Illicit Trade: Routes & Insights, developed with the support of its Anticounterfeiting Committee and through collaboration with brand protection software firm ApiraSol. The new study provides a structured analysis and visual mapping of global counterfeit trade routes across 13 industry sectors.

The report identifies key origin jurisdictions and ports, major transit hubs, destination markets, and commonly used counterfeit trade routes. It also highlights major global ports and identifies those considered most vulnerable to counterfeit trade activity. The study is intended to strengthen understanding of illicit trade patterns, trafficking dynamics, and exposure points within global supply chains.

Its findings are designed to support INTA members, policymakers, customs authorities, and law enforcement agencies with data-driven insights into counterfeit trade networks. The analysis covers the following sectors: Automotive; Clothing and Footwear; Cosmetics and Fragrances; Electronics; Eyewear; Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG); Food and Beverages; Handbags and Accessories; Pharmaceuticals; Tobacco; Toys; Vitamins and Healthcare; and Watches and Jewelry.

“Counterfeiting is a global and increasingly sophisticated challenge that affects businesses, consumers, governments, and economies alike,” said INTA President Deborah A. Hampton. “With Mapping Illicit Trade: Routes & Insights, INTA is providing a practical, data-driven resource that helps illuminate how counterfeit goods move through global trade networks. By better understanding these routes and vulnerabilities, stakeholders can strengthen cooperation and target enforcement efforts more effectively.”

The study is based primarily on data collected between 2023 and 2025 through questionnaires and interviews with INTA members, including brand owners and intellectual property professionals. Participants provided intelligence on top origin jurisdictions and ports, transit points, destination markets, known counterfeit routes, and major and vulnerable ports in their jurisdictions. Responses were standardized and consolidated to ensure consistency and comparability across sectors and geographies.

“This study is especially valuable because it translates industry intelligence into a clearer picture of illicit trade patterns across sectors and geographies,” said INTA CEO Etienne Sanz de Acedo. “The findings are intended to equip policymakers, customs officials, law enforcement authorities, and INTA members with actionable insights that can support smarter strategies, stronger collaboration, and more informed policymaking to address the global counterfeit trade.”

The data was analyzed and transformed into visual representations to enable comparative assessment of counterfeit trade flows worldwide. The report emphasizes recurring trade patterns and identifies high-risk ports and routes based on industry input and reported exposure levels. This visual mapping approach gives stakeholders a clearer understanding of how counterfeit goods move through international trade networks and reinforces the importance of cross-sector collaboration and information-sharing in combating global counterfeiting activity. The study is intended to be a living document which will be routinely updated to reflect additional routes and new industry sectors.

Mapping Illicit Trade: Routes & Insights was completed in May 2026 and is available to INTA members. Access can be granted to government representatives upon request.

About the International Trademark Association:  
The International Trademark Association (INTA) is a global association of brand owners and professionals dedicated to supporting trademarks and complementary intellectual property (IP) to foster consumer trust, economic growth, and innovation, and committed to building a better society through brands. Members include more than 6,600 organizations, representing more than 38,000 individuals (trademark owners, professionals, and academics) from 182 countries, who benefit from the Association’s global trademark resources, policy development, education and training, and international network. Founded in 1878, INTA is headquartered in New York City, with offices in Beijing, Brussels, Dubai, Santiago, Singapore, and the Washington, D.C., Metro Area, and representatives in Nairobi and New Delhi. For more information, visit inta.org.

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Media Contact:  
Jean-Claude Darné
Managing Director, Marketing and Communications
212-642-1774
[email protected]