A Nordic nation southwest of Sweden, the Kingdom of Denmark’s imported products cost a total US$126.3 billion in 2023.

That dollar amount reflects a 30.2% gain compared to $97 billion five years earlier during 2019.

From 2022 to 2023, the total cost of Denmark’s imported goods flatlined via a -0.6% drop starting from $127.1 billion.

Based on the average exchange rate for 2023, the Danish krone depreciated by -3.3% against the US dollar since 2019 but appreciated by 2.6% from 2022 to 2023. Denmark’s weaker after 2019 local currency makes Denmark’s imports relatively more expensive when converted starting from Danish krones.

Denmark’s Biggest International Product Suppliers

The latest available country-specific data shows that 69.6% of products imported by Denmark was supplied by exporters in: Germany (15.7% of the Danish total), Sweden (11.5%), Norway (6.9%), Netherlands (6.5%), mainland China (5.7%), Poland (5.6%), United States of America (4.1%), Italy (3.6%), Belgium (3.5%), France (2.5%), United Kingdom (2.1%) and Spain (2%).

Applying a continental lens, four-fifths (80%) of Denmark’s total imports by value in 2023 were purchased from other European countries. Asian trade partners supplied another 13.6% of imports purchased by Denmark.

Denmark joined the European Union in 1973. Fellow EU member states satisfied 64.9% of total Danish import spending in 2023.

Smaller percentages came from North America (4.7%), Latin America (1%) excluding Mexico but including the Caribbean, Africa (0.4%), then Oceania (0.3%) led by Australia and New Zealand.

Given Denmark’s population of 5.893 million people, its total $126.3 billion in 2023 imports translates to roughly $21,400 in yearly product demand from every person in the European Union member state. That dollar metric lags the average $21,900 per capita one year earlier in 2022.

Denmark’s Top 10 Imports

The following product groups represent the highest dollar value in Denmark’s import purchases during 2023. Also shown is the percentage share each product category represents in terms of overall imports into Denmark.

1. Mineral fuels including oil: US$16.8 billion (13.3% of total imports)
2. Machinery including computers: $13.7 billion (10.9%)
3. Electrical machinery, equipment: $11.8 billion (9.4%)
4. Vehicles: $11.6 billion (9.2%)
5. Pharmaceuticals: $5.4 billion (4.3%)
6. Plastics, plastic articles: $4.5 billion (3.6%)
7. Fish: $3.8 billion (3%)
8. Optical, technical, medical apparatus: $3.7 billion (2.9%)
9. Articles of iron or steel: $3.4 billion (2.7%)
10. Iron, steel: $3 billion (2.3%)

Denmark’s top 10 imports generated over three-fifths (61.6%) of the overall value of its product purchases from other countries.

Fish posted the fastest growth in cost among Denmark’s top 10 import categories, up by 30.3% from 2022 to 2023.

In second place were Denmark’s imports of vehicles (up 21.5%) ahead of imported mineral fuels including oil (up 17.1%).

The severest decline belongs to iron and steel imported into Denmark, pulled down by a -20% year-over-year reduction.

Please note that the results listed above are at the 2-digit Harmonized Tariff System code level.

At the more granular 4-digit level, importers in Denmark spent the most on imported petroleum gas (6.5% of the Danish total), cars (5.6%), medication mixes in dosage (2.9%), crude oil (2.5%), processed petroleum oils (also 2.5%), phone devices including smartphones (2%), computers including optical readers (also 2%), fresh or chilled fish excluding fillets (1.6%), vessels including cruise ships, cargo ships and ferry-boats (1.4%), and trucks (1.1%).

Denmark’s Major Mineral Fuels Imports

In 2023, Danish importers spent the most on the following 10 subcategories of mineral fuels-related products including oil.

1. Petroleum gases: US$8.2 billion (up 316.2% from 2022)
2. Crude oil: $3.1 billion (down -14.5%)
3. Processed petroleum oils: $3.1 billion (down -16.1%)
4. Electrical energy: $1.4 billion (down -57.3%)
5. Coal tar oils (high temperature distillation): $380.3 million (down -50.2%)
6. Petroleum oil residues: $112.8 million (down -14.5%)
7. Natural bitumen, asphalt, shale: $31.2 million (down -13.6%)
8. Coal, solid fuels made from coal: $19.5 million (up 68.8%)
9. Peat: $19.1 million (up 29.4%)
10. Petroleum jelly, mineral waxes: $17.2 million (down -29.7%)

Among these import subcategories, Danish purchases of petroleum gases (up 316.2%), coal including solid fuels made from coal (up 68.8%), then peat (up 29.4%) grew from 2022 to 2023.

These amounts and the percentage gains within parenthesis clearly show where the strongest demand lies for different types of imported mineral fuels-related goods among Danish businesses and consumers.

Denmark’s Major Machinery Imports Including Computers

In 2023, Danish importers spent the most on the following 10 subcategories of machinery including computers.

1. Computers, optical readers: US$2.6 billion (down -6.1% from 2022)
2. Taps, valves, similar appliances: $964.1 million (down -3.7%)
3. Liquid pumps and elevators: $602.8 million (up 2.5%)
4. Centrifuges, filters and purifiers: $595.5 million (down -2.9%)
5. Transmission shafts, gears, clutches: $541 million (up 15.7%)
6. Machinery parts: $539.4 million (down -3.6%)
7. Refrigerators, freezers: $510.3 million (down -17.7%)
8. Miscellaneous machinery: $505.9 million (down -1.3%)
9. Heavy machinery (bulldozers, excavators, road rollers): $465.6 million (up 12.3%)
10. Air or vacuum pumps: $427.2 million (down -5.4%)

Among these import subcategories, Danish purchases of transmission shafts, gears and clutches (up 15.7%), heavy machinery such as bulldozers, excavators and road rollers (up 12.3%), then liquid pumps and elevators (up 2.5%) grew from 2022 to 2023.

These amounts and the percentage gains within parenthesis clearly show where the strongest demand lies for different types of imported machinery including computers among Danish businesses and consumers.

Denmark’s Major Electrical Imports

In 2023, Danish importers spent the most on the following 10 subcategories of electrical goods including consumer electronics.

1. Phone devices including smartphones: US$2.6 billion (up 4.9% from 2022)
2. Electrical converters/power units: $1 billion (up 5.5%)
3. Insulated wire/cable: $854 million (up 9.5%)
4. Electrical/optical circuit boards, panels: $603.7 million (up 14.1%)
5. Lower-voltage switches, fuses: $552.1 million (down -2.4%)
6. TV receivers/monitors/projectors: $536.6 million (down -20.1%)
7. Microphones/headphones/amps: $511.4 million (down -11.5%)
8. Electric motors, generators: $498.3 million (down -1.6%)
9. Integrated circuits/microassemblies: $483.3 million (down -11.1%)
10. Electric water heaters, hair dryers: $434.7 million (up 1%)

Among these import subcategories, Danish purchases of electrical or optical circuit boards and panels (up 14.1%), insulated wire or cable (up 9.5%), then electrical converters and power units (up 5.5%) grew at the fastest pace from 2022 to 2023.

These amounts and the percentage gains within parenthesis clearly show where the strongest demand lies for different types of imported electronics among Danish businesses and consumers.

Denmark’s Major Automotive Imports

In 2023, Danish importers spent the most on the following 10 subcategories of vehicles.

1. Cars: US$7.1 billion (up 30.7% from 2022)
2. Trucks: $1.4 billion (up 41.1%)
3. Automobile parts/accessories: $977.5 million (up 2.9%)
4. Trailers: $596.6 million (down -4.7%)
5. Tractors: $574.3 million (up 44%)
6. Motorcycles: $193.6 million (up 0.8%)
7. Chassis fitted with engine: $187.3 million (up 1.6%)
8. Public-transport vehicles: $156.7 million (down -23.1%)
9. Motorcycle parts/accessories: $130.4 million (down -33.6%)
10. Bicycles, other non-motorized cycles: $112 million (down -24.5%)

Among these import subcategories, Danish purchases of tractors (up 44%), trucks (up 41.1%) then cars (up 30.7%) grew at the fastest pace from 2022 to 2023.

These amounts and the percentage gains within parenthesis clearly show where the strongest demand lies for different types of imported vehicles among Danish businesses and consumers.
 

See also Denmark’s Top 10 Exports, Denmark’s Top Trading Partners, Drugs and Medicine Exports by Country and Top Blood Exporters by Country

Research Sources:
Central Intelligence Agency, The World Factbook Country Profiles. Accessed on April 29, 2024

International Monetary Fund, Exchange Rates selected indicators (Domestic Currency per U.S. dollar, period average). Accessed on April 29, 2024

Trade Map, International Trade Centre. Accessed on April 29, 2024

Investopedia, Net Exports Definition. Accessed on April 29, 2024

Wikipedia, Denmark. Accessed on April 29, 2024