In this edition, we are excited to present Piotr Sienkiewicz, who is our director of customs agency in Poland and boasts over boasts over 30 years’ experience in customs services.
Piotr’s background includes roles in both the Customs administration and major prominent international customs brokers in Poland and Germany. Before joining Rusak, which was acquired by Customs Support in 2023, Piotr managed a customs department with 300 people at JAS-FBG, one of Poland's leading logistics service providers.
As a theorist and practitioner of customs law, Piotr is an academic lecturer in postgraduate studies, an author of numerous publications and expert articles, and the host of a Customs Podcast in Poland. He continues to contribute to the industry as a member of the Customs Committee at the Polish Chamber of Freight Forwarding and Logistics.
Beyond his professional endeavors, Piotr is a history enthusiast, football fan, and an aficionado of international cuisine.
Join us as Piotr shares his experience and insights in this article.
You have been connected to the customs industry practically forever, and have personally led the development and success of the Rusak company for the last six years. What are the main areas of activity and interests resulting from your work which have allowed for these achievements?
When I started working at Rusak six years ago, I wondered who our target group of clients should be and how we could position ourselves in the customs services market.
We couldn't become the largest customs agency in Poland overnight, nor could we take the position of the cheapest one, but our ambition was to be the best.
Our strategy focused on becoming the top choice in the market by investing heavily in human resources, training and enhancing our team's expertise. These investments allowed us to expand into new service segments and specialize in challenging areas that other agencies often avoided. For example, in excise duty services and specialist procedures.
Soon enough, we have established ourselves as the foremost expert customs agency, known for our comprehensive service and our professional support in handling the complexities of customs procedures for our clients. Ultimately, the most valuable aspect of our growth was "word-of-mouth” marketing, as satisfied clients frequently recommended us to others.
After COVID-19 and Brexit, we now face political uncertainty on the eastern border of Poland, and we are also approaching a reform of the EU Customs Code and domestic legislation. Which of these events posed and continues to pose the greatest challenge and how does a customs agency adapt to such a dynamic environment?
To our surprise, COVID-19 did not have a negative impact on our dynamic growth. Of course, one might wonder if we would have grown even faster under normal circumstances, but overall, there was nothing to complain about.
Brexit, on the other hand, was a significant step forward for us, as we realised the bold vision of our CEO, Mr. Tomasz Rusak, and entered the UK market - facilitating trade operation between the countries. After these experiences, we believed that any problem could be turned into a victory.
In 2022, we faced new challenges due to the war in Ukraine and the resulting sanctions, which escalated with trade protests and border blockages in 2023 and 2024. This led to the closure of the Dorohusk border crossing for months, and limited customs clearances in Korczowa.
Consequently, despite Poland having the largest share of the EU border with Ukraine, more trucks were heading to Slovakian and Hungarian crossings to avoid disruptions at the Polish border. The border is open again now, but the uncertainty remains. Adapting to this constant state of discomfort and uncertainty is more a matter of psychology than management.
Since July 2023, Rusak has joined the Customs Support Group. How have you adjusted to this new way of working?
Joining Customs Support has provided us with access to new tools, know-how, and digital innovations, as well as the opportunity to gain experience on a pan-European level.
From a local customs broker in a peripheral EU country, we have become a part of the leading European company present in 14 countries – in all major strategic locations across Europe. No other customs agency has such a geographical reach.
Being part of the Customs Support group brings us to the next level, enabling us to cater to large international customers and truly “empower global trade”. Operating on the eastern flank of the EU, the Polish division of Customs Support will naturally become a crucial link in the organisation.
What is the key thing a client should look for in a customs partner?
It is unfortunate to say, but the choice of a customs agency is often determined by social connections or price – even if the company was only established yesterday by people with little-to-no experience, or there is only a one-Euro difference in price.
Fortunately, there is a growing trend to prioritise quality, especially amongst international companies for whom the details make all the difference – or who have already experienced the sting of a customs penalty. In these cases, entrusting such a delicate matter to amateurs is unthinkable.
Since the number of both groups is steadily increasing, I am confident about the future of Customs Support Group. Our commitment to quality and innovation is our most effective strategy for success.
Apart from your professional life, what are your passions and interests?
I have three passions: work, work, and work. I know it's unfashionable and politically incorrect, but customs is my work, my hobby, and my passion.
I love traveling, but even when abroad, I can't help checking what is subject to excise duty in Cyprus or which tax stamps are used in Lithuania.
I am also a football fan, but I won't reveal which team I support—I'll just hint that they have been going through tough times recently. Due to my last name (Henryk Sienkiewicz - Polish Nobel Laureate in Literature), I also feel a connection to literature and enjoy reading a good book.
To conclude, could you share an anecdote or a story that best captures the nature of work in our industry or your area of expertise?
In the 90s, between Christmas and New Year's, I was working at the German border expecting a quiet day. Instead, chaos erupted as trucks loaded with alcohol arrived one after another.
The customs tariff rates on alcohol hadn't been published in Poland before the Christmas holidays, leaving a gap where the old rates had expired, and the new ones hadn't started.
Seizing the opportunity, some entrepreneurs bought large quantities of cheap alcohol in Germany and brought it into Poland without paying any duty.
What is the moral of this story?
Maybe that the world belongs to the brave.
Maybe that it pays off to be well-informed.
Or maybe that imperfect laws often have a hidden side, and that someone benefits greatly from these imperfections. It's worth ensuring that no one deceives us.
