Denmark exported US$133.7 billion worth of products around the world in 2024.
That dollar amount results from a 25.1% advance from $106.9 billion during 2020.
From 2023 to 2024, the overall value of Danish exports dropped -1.8% compared to $136.1 billion.
Denmark’s top 5 trading partners Germany, Sweden, Netherlands, United States of America and Norway. Combined, that cohort of major consumers for Denmark’s exports bought a concentrated 44.5% of overall Danish exports during 2024.
Applying a continental lens, three-quarters (75%) of Denmark’s exports by value was delivered to fellow European countries while 13% was sold to importers in Asia. Denmark shipped another 7.7% worth of goods to buyers in North America.
Denmark is also a member of the European Union. EU members bought 70.2% of Danish exports sold in 2024.
Smaller percentages went to customers in Oceania (1.56%) led by Australia, Marshall Islands and New Zealand, Latin America (1.51%) excluding Mexico but including the Caribbean then Africa (1.3%).
Denmark’s Top Trading Partners
Below is a list showcasing 25 of Denmark’s top trading partners, countries that imported the most Danish shipments by dollar value during 2024. Also shown is each import country’s percentage of total Danish exports.
- Germany: US$21.2 billion (15.8% of Denmark’s total exports)
- Sweden: $12.4 billion (9.3%)
- Netherlands: $9.2 billion (6.9%)
- United States: $8.5 billion (6.3%)
- Norway: $8.3 billion (6.2%)
- United Kingdom: $6.8 billion (5.1%)
- Poland: $6.2 billion (4.7%)
- France: $5.3 billion (4%)
- mainland China: $3.8 billion (2.8%)
- Italy: $3.1 billion (2.3%)
- Finland: $2.74 billion (2%)
- Spain: $2.73 billion (2%)
- Belgium: $2.6 billion (1.9%)
- Japan: $1.7 billion (1.3%)
- Türkiye: $1.5 billion (1.2%)
- Switzerland: $1.35 billion (1%)
- Australia: $1.32 billion (1%)
- Faroe Islands: $1.19 billion (0.9%)
- South Korea: $1.1 billion (0.8%)
- Czech Republic: $1.01 billion (0.8%)
- Austria: $1.01 billion (0.8%)
- Saudi Arabia: $947.6 million (0.7%)
- Iceland: $946.9 million (0.7%)
- Ireland: $888.9 million (0.7%)
- Brazil: $849.8 million (0.6%)
Nearly four-fifths (79.8%) of Danish exports in 2024 was delivered to the above 25 trade partners.
The greatest increases in purchases of goods exported from Denmark were recorded by buyers in the Faroe Islands (up 75.7% from 2023), Brazil (up 72.1%), Japan (up 38.9%), Iceland (up 36.6%), Saudi Arabia (up 35.4%) then the United States of America (up 30.9%).
Posting the most modest gain were importers of Danish exports in Ireland (up 9.4% from 2023).
Countries Causing Denmark’s Worst Trade Deficits
As defined by Investopedia, a country whose total value of all imported goods is higher than its value of all exports is said to have a negative trade balance or deficit.
It would be unrealistic for any exporting nation to expect across-the-board positive trade balances with all its importing partners. Similarly, that export country doesn’t necessarily post a negative trade balance with each individual partner with which it exchanges exports and imports.
Denmark incurred the highest trade deficits with the following countries.
- mainland China: -US$5.88 billion (country-specific trade deficit in 2024.)
- Germany: -$5.86 billion
- Sweden: -$3.7 billion
- Netherlands: -$3.3 billion
- Belgium: -$1.9 billion
- Italy: -$1.6 billion
- South Korea: -$1.5 billion
- Czech Republic: -$1.3 billion
- Bangladesh: -$1.1 billion
- Poland: -$531 million
Among Denmark’s trading partners that cause the greatest negative trade balances, Danish deficits with South Korea (up 2,208%), mainland China (up 30.3%) and Bangladesh (up 25.2%) grew at the fastest pace from 2023 to 2024.
These cashflow deficiencies clearly indicate Denmark’s competitive disadvantages with the above countries, but also represent key opportunities for Denmark to develop country-specific strategies to strengthen its overall position in international trade.
Countries Generating Denmark’s Biggest Trade Surpluses
Denmark earned a total US$10.5 billion trade surplus in 2024, expanding by 25% from the $8.4 billion in black ink one year earlier for 2023.
Based on Investopedia’s definition of net importer, a country whose total value of all imported goods is lower than its value of all exports is said to have a positive trade balance or surplus.
Denmark incurred the highest trade surpluses with the following countries.
- United Kingdom: US$3.2 billion (country-specific trade surplus in 2024.)
- Norway: $1.4 billion
- Australia: $1 billion
- Japan: $901.1 million
- Finland: $896.1 million
- Faroe Islands: $783.8 million
- France: $763.5 million
- Saudi Arabia: $687.6 million
- Iceland: $682.2 million
- Singapore: $569.8 million
Among Denmark’s trading partners that generate the greatest positive trade balances, Danish surpluses with Faroe Islands (up 135.7%), Japan (up 32.2%) and Iceland (up 31.9%) grew at the fastest pace from 2023 to 2024.
In addition, Denmark transitioned from a -$74.1 million deficit trading with Singapore during 2023 to recording the $569.8 million surplus above.
These positive cashflow streams clearly indicate Denmark’s competitive advantages with the above countries, but also represent key opportunities for Denmark to develop country-specific strategies to optimize its overall position in international trade.
Major Companies Servicing Denmark’s Trading Partners
Fourteen Danish corporations rank among Forbes Global 2000. Below is a sample of the major Danish companies that Forbes included.
- A.P. Moller-Maersk Group (transportation, energy)
- Carlsberg (beverages)
- Coloplast (medical equipment, supplies)
- DSV (transportation, logistics)
- Novo Nordisk (pharmaceuticals)
- Novozymes (biotechs)
- TDC (telecommunications services)
- Vestas Wind Systems (electrical equipment)
Wikipedia also lists exporters from Denmark. Selected examples are shown below.
- Arla Foods (dairy products)
- House of Amber (jewelry)
- Kopenhagen Fur (fur clothing, accessories)
- Lego Group (toys)
- Pharma Nord (pharmaceuticals)
- Royal Copenhagen (porcelain)
- Tuborg (brewery)
See also Denmark’s Top 10 Imports, Denmark’s Top 10 Exports, Drugs and Medicine Exports by Country and Top Blood Exporters by Country
Research Sources:
Central Intelligence Agency, The World Factbook Country Profiles. Accessed on October 10, 2025
Forbes Global 2000 rankings, The World’s Biggest Public Companies. Accessed on October 10, 2025
Trade Map, International Trade Centre. Accessed on October 10, 2025
Investopedia, Net Exports Definition. Accessed on October 10, 2025
Wikipedia, Denmark. Accessed on October 10, 2025