Average time to import: Border compliance (hours) — merchandise imports

This statistic measures the average time (in hours) required to complete “border compliance” procedures when importing a shipment of goods. Border compliance covers customs clearance, inspections, and port/border handling at the economy’s main import gateway, excluding domestic transport and document preparation time.

It’s a useful, concrete indicator of how quickly goods can cross a country’s border in practice—often reflecting customs efficiency, port capacity, inspection regimes, and the degree of risk-based processing. Lower times generally support more reliable supply chains and reduce trade costs, while very high times can signal congestion, complex procedures, or limited infrastructure.