THAILAND Country Profile

Customs Administration

Individual Corruption

According to Global Integrity 2007, citizens' confidence in the integrity of the Customs Department in Thailand is not high due to the fact that customs and excise laws are being enforced discriminatingly. According to the Transparency International Global Corruption Barometer 2005, citizens perceive the customs service to be highly corrupt. This is further illuminated by online news Bangkok Post, estimating the average cost of bribes to the Customs Department at TBH 111,948 in 2009, which is more than triple compared to 2003.

Business Corruption

Corruption is widespread within customs and other trade checkpoints. According to the US Department of State 2009, customs is by far the sector where most private companies complain about corruption. A survey by the University of Thai Chamber of Commerce shows that the majority of importers, exporters and shipping companies have encountered demands for facilitation payments by the Customs Department. Corruption is also significant at seaport and airport facilities.

Frequency

The World Bank & IFC: Doing Business 2010:
- A standard export shipment of goods requires 4 documents and takes an average of 14 days at a cost of USD 625 per container.

- A standard import shipment of goods requires 3 documents and takes an average of 13 days at a cost of USD 795 per container.

World Economic Forum: The Global Competitiveness Report 2009-2010:
- Business executives give the efficiency of customs procedures (formalities regulating the entry and exit of merchandise) in Thailand a score of 4.1 on a 7-point scale (1 being 'extremely inefficient' and 7 'extremely efficient' and the mean of the results of the 133 surveyed countries being 4.1).

Office of The National Anti-Corruption Commission 2009:
- The average amount of bribe paid to the Customs Department amounts to TBH 111,948 per case in 2009.

The World Bank & IFC: Enterprise Surveys 2006:
- It takes on average 1.5 days to clear direct exports through customs.

- It takes on average 5 days to clear imports through customs.

- 32% of companies surveyed state that customs and trade regulation is a major constraint for doing business.

Transparency International: Global Corruption Barometer 2005:
- Citizens give customs a score of 3.2 on a 5-point scale (1 being 'not at all corrupt' and 5 'extremely corrupt').