Customs officers intercepted a record 32,060 cases of fakes and other items violating intellectual property rights in 2014, the Finance Ministry said Wednesday.
The number, which increased 14.0 percent from 2013, marked a record high for the third straight year, the ministry said, adding that 92.2 percent of the imitation goods came from China by mail or cargo.
Bags accounted for 33.9 percent of the total, followed by clothes at 21.0 percent. Cellphone-related goods, such as fake smartphone cases, accounted for 9.4 percent.
The volume of intercepted electrical equipment such as lighting, and accessories including earrings, increased significantly, the ministry said.
The total equivalent volume of authentic merchandise would have been worth around ¥18 billion, it said.