Authorities conduct a search at Adidas' main facility.
Adidas has been engaged in a prolonged conflict with customs over import regulations for their products. Recently, officials have carried out inspections, even extending to Adidas' main office in Herzogenaurach.
As reported by "Manager Magazin," this dispute centers around the compliance with customs and tax regulations during product imports into Germany, spanning from October 2019 to August 2024. After initial investigations, Bavarian tax officials and customs agents visited Adidas' headquarters in Herzogenaurach, the factory in Scheinfeld, and the logistics center in Rieste near Osnabrück. The company is actively cooperating with authorities, supplying necessary documents and information.
Adidas has maintained that this legal battle is centered on differing interpretations of German and European law. The company has been in communication with the relevant customs authorities for quite some time regarding the underlying issue, asserting that there won't be any major financial consequences for the company. Yet, the specific figures and reasons behind the inspections have not been publicly disclosed. It seems that Adidas and customs have already settled on a course of action for this dispute.
In the past nine months, Adidas has experienced a 10% sales boost, reaching an impressive 17.7 billion euros. Currently, only a small percentage of their products are manufactured in Germany, while most are produced by external partners in Asian countries like China, Vietnam, and Bangladesh.
Additionally, other international brands like Nike and Puma have also faced similar challenges with customs in recent years. Despite the ongoing dispute, Adidas and other sports apparel companies continue to prioritize compliance with import regulations to avoid delays and penalties.
