Abstract:

Despite the efforts of global organisations, governments and companies in controlling illicit trade, the phenomenon continues to be a latent threat for the global economy. According to the World Economic Forum, the global value of illicit trade and transnational activities is estimated at between 8% and 15% of global GDP, potentially reaching as high as US$12 trillion in 2014. Each year, an increasing number of goods and brands are affected by illicit trade. To help the business community understand and define strategies to deal with the growing threat posed by the illicit trade, Euromonitor International has conducted extensive research on this topic. With this paper, we aim to draw attention to a global issue and describe the main winners and losers of the illicit trade.