On 27 November 2025, the World Customs Organization (WCO) published its Annual Report for 2024-2025, which includes details of its WCO Strategic Plan 2025-2028 - Serving data-driven Customs for a connected world. Endorsed by the WCO Council, the Organisation’s governing body, the Strategic Plan will guide the organisation’s efforts to focus on the most pressing issues of the global Customs community in a rapidly changing environment.
WCO’s Annual Report
WCO’s Annual Report 2024-2025 highlights the organisation’s achievements, strategic plan, and transformations as part of its broader modernisation effort. It serves as a resource for WCO members and stakeholders, providing insights into the organisation’s activities and contributions to the Customs domain. The report also contains a timeline of highlights from 2024-2025, which include;
Innovation and operational achievements
Over the past year, the WCO has advanced efforts to modernise Customs operations and strengthen international enforcement. The study, “Unlocking the Value of Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT) in Customs Enforcement,” demonstrated how open data can enhance operations in fragile and conflict-affected regions. Joint initiatives also yielded tangible results – Operation Thunder 2024, conducted with INTERPOL across 138 countries, led to the seizure of nearly 20,000 live animals and significant quantities of endangered species products.
Digital transformation and modernisation
The 2024 WCO Technology Conference in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, gathered over 1,300 participants from 117 countries under the theme “Digital Frontiers: Customs Embracing Innovation with Traditional and New Partners.” Discussions highlighted the growing use of artificial intelligence, blockchain, and data analytics in Customs modernisation. The WCO also released studies on rules of origin cumulation and a review of the Harmonised System (HS), both of which emphasise adaptability in global trade standards.
Capacity building and ethics
Between July 2024 and June 2025, the WCO conducted 514 capacity-building missions and expanded its network of accredited experts to 786. These experts support members in implementing Customs standards, digitalisation, and enforcement measures. The organisation further advanced ethics and inclusion by convening the Fourth Global Conference of the WCO Network for Gender Equality and Diversity in Customs and by launching two new integrity training kits to bolster anti-corruption efforts.
Expanding global partnerships
New Memoranda of Understanding were signed with the World Trade Organization and the European Space Agency, the latter paving the way for the use of space-based technologies to enhance border management and crisis response.
WCO Strategic Plan 2025-2028
Shaped through extensive consultation with our members, this plan will guide the organisation through the next cycle of its evolution. It is grounded in three core principles: leading through excellence, focusing on what matters most and amplifying our impact and visibility. The principal aspects and modifications of the Strategic Plan include;
WCO mission and functions
The WCO’s vision, mission, and values were updated to better respond to the evolving role of Customs in today’s global environment. In addition, the entire strategy was developed with a renewed focus on the core functions that define the organisation’s essence. Based on the Strategic Plan, the WCO’s two core functions are developing and maintaining customs standards and policy, as it provides leadership in shaping and refining global Customs standards, and Implementation and Capacity Development, as it is committed to assisting its members in the practical implementation of standards and in enhancing their capabilities through targeted support and development programmes.
Focus areas - Advancing the global customs agenda in a data-driven world
Identified as emerging trends and longstanding issues requiring enhanced focus, the three focus areas are: Technology and innovation, E-Commerce, and Green Customs. In its efforts to deliver tangible results in these essential matters, the WCO will be guided by the understanding of the critical importance of leveraging the opportunities of big data and technological advancement – hence the emphasis on data-driven Customs as the overarching theme of the plan.
Reflecting Customs reality – WCO’s vision
Reflecting the active role Customs wants to play in addressing environmental issues, the Strategic Plan also introduces the notion of sustainability in its updated vision statement: ‘Bringing Customs together for a safer, more prosperous and sustainable world. Borders divide, Customs connects.’
Annual survey
WCO’s annual survey, also published in the Annual Report, is a central tool for assessing how Customs administrations worldwide operate and evolve. This year, 111 of the WCO’s 186 members responded, providing sufficient data to identify global trends while underscoring the need for broader participation to strengthen future analysis. Findings from these responses include:
- Customs tax revenue accounts for 26.10% of total government income;
- Maritime transport overwhelmingly dominates, carrying 78.20% of the total reported trade value; and
- Female representation within Customs administrations continues to rise, including in middle and senior management roles.
More information: Annual Report 2024-2025