Customs overshoots collection goal in first half of 2023

The Bureau of Customs (BOC) has exceeded its collection target in the first half of 2023, on the back of its anti-smuggling efforts.

In a statement released late Tuesday, the BOC said it collected P434.169 billion from January to June this year, higher by 3.21% or P13.505 billion than its P420.66-billion goal for the period.

Year-on-year, the bureau’s collections grew by P37.434 billion.

In June alone, the Customs also exceeded its target of P74.721 billion as it collected P74.861 billion during the month.

“The increase in revenue was achieved despite the challenges in importation volume, which is negative 2.8% this year for high-value commodities,” the BOC said.

“Furthermore, although the volume of oil increased by 9.9% this year as compared last year, the revenue from said commodity declined due to decreasing value of oil in the world market (from as high as $1.1 per liter in June 2022 to just $ 0.63 per liter average this month),” it added.

Despite the decline in importation volume, the Customs said its drive against smuggling significantly contributed to its collection performance.

“The anti-smuggling efforts resulted in the seizure of shipments with an aggregate estimated value of P23.8 billion this year,” it said.

“Of these, P15.54 billion are from seizures of counterfeit goods, P2.90 billion are from seizures of agricultural products, and P1.85 billion from seizures of cigarettes/tobacco, among others,” it added.

The BOC also said it has posted significant gains this year.

Aside from exceeding its monthly collection targets, a record-breaking daily collection of P7.51 billion —which is the highest collection in BOC history —was recorded this year on April 28, 2023.

Customs Commissioner Bienvenido Rubio called on all the BOC’s offices and collection districts to maintain the bureau’s performance throughout the year by utilizing the BOC's modernization programs and enhanced reform initiatives aligned with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s eight-point Socioeconomic Program. — Ted Cordero/RSJ, GMA Integrated News