Research and analysis

Customs intermediaries wave 3 executive summary

Published 29 June 2023

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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/research-into-the-customs-intermediaries-sector-waves-3-to-5/customs-intermediaries-wave-3-executive-summary

1. Background and methodology

This summary report presents the key findings from the third wave of research with customs intermediaries, conducted on behalf of HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC). HMRC commissioned Ipsos to conduct research to understand the size and characteristics of the customs intermediary sector. Conducted over 5 waves between June 2020 and March 2022, the research has explored the sector’s preparations for EU Exit, the end of the transition period, and new customs processes. The topics have varied each wave, with the overall aim being to measure change in customs intermediaries’ capacity and confidence in response to EU Exit policies, as well as to better understand the population in terms of structure and the services provided to traders.

The research focused on customs intermediaries who at the time made customs declarations on behalf of traders (either in-house, through outsourcing to another customs intermediary, or a mix of both), or those who said they intended to make declarations once full customs declarations were required on all EU trade (again, either in-house, through outsourcing to another customs intermediary, or a mix of both).

The Wave 3 survey took place between 26 March and 6 May 2021 and consisted of 473 telephone interviews with customs intermediaries. In addition, 15 follow-up, qualitative in-depth interviews were conducted via telephone between 5 and 16 July 2021.

2. Key findings

  • A greater proportion of customs intermediaries were completing customs declarations at the time of the Wave 3 survey (87%), compared to the Wave 2 survey (81%). Half of customs intermediaries (49%) said they were completing more customs declarations than they expected to before the transition period ended.

  • Six in ten customs intermediaries have received more enquiries from traders since 1 January 2021 than they did in the three months leading up to 31 December 2020 (59%). More than half have turned new customers away, most commonly due to lack of capacity (29%) and traders being unprepared for the changes (24%).

  • Despite this increased demand for their services, the average price for customs declarations remains broadly unchanged from Wave 1 (conducted between 23 July and 1 September 2020).

  • Three-quarters of customs intermediaries (77%) feel confident with the new operational requirements for trading with the EU. Half (53%) say they do not face any barriers to making additional customs declarations, and 4 in 10 (40%) do not need any further information to help them feel confident in making additional customs declarations.

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