A Nordic nation southwest of Sweden, the Kingdom of Denmark’s imported products cost a total US$126.4 billion in 2022.

That dollar amount reflects a 24.3% gain compared to $101.7 billion during 2018.

From 2021 to 2022, the total cost of Denmark’s imported goods rose 3.8% from $121.8 billion.

Based on the average exchange rate for 2022, the Danish krone depreciated by -12.1% against the US dollar since 2018 and diluted by -12.3% from 2021 to 2022. Denmark’s weaker 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 over two-thirds (69.6%) of products imported by Denmark were supplied by exporters in: Germany (15.7% of Denmark’s global total), Sweden (11.5%), Netherlands (6.9%), mainland China (6.5%), Norway (5.7%), Poland (5.6%), United States of America (4.1%), Belgium (3.6%), Italy (3.5%), France (2.5%), United Kingdom (2.1%) and Spain (2%).

Applying a continental lens, well over three-quarters (78.4%) of Denmark’s total imports by value in 2022 were purchased from fellow European countries. Asian trade partners supplied another 15.4% of imports purchased by Denmark.

Smaller percentages came from North America (4.2%), Latin America (0.9%) excluding Mexico but including the Caribbean, Africa (0.6%), then Oceania (also 0.3%) led by the Marshall Islands and New Zealand.

Given Denmark’s population of 5.885 million people, its total $126.4 billion in 2022 imports translates to roughly $21,900 in yearly product demand from every person in the European Union member state. That dollar metric exceeds the average $20,900 per capita one year earlier in 2021.

Denmark’s Top 10 Imports

The following product groups represent the highest dollar value in Denmark’s import purchases during 2022. Also shown is the percentage share each product category represents in terms of overall imports into Denmark.

1. Mineral fuels including oil: US$14.4 billion (11.4% of total imports)
2. Machinery including computers: $14.2 billion (11.3%)
3. Electrical machinery, equipment: $11.5 billion (9.1%)
4. Vehicles: $9.7 billion (7.6%)
5. Pharmaceuticals: $5.8 billion (4.6%)
6. Plastics, plastic articles: $5.2 billion (4.1%)
7. Articles of iron or steel: $3.8 billion (3%)
8. Iron, steel: $3.8 billion (3%)
9. Fish: $3.7 billion (3%)
10. Optical, technical, medical apparatus: $3.6 billion (2.8%)

Denmark’s top 10 imports accounted for three-fifths (59.8%) of the overall value of its product purchases from other countries.

Mineral fuels including oil posted the fastest growth in cost among Denmark’s top 10 import categories, up 41.8% from 2021 to 2022. Denmark’s leading category was propelled by higher import purchases of petroleum oils (both crude and refined) as well as petroleum gas.

In second place were Denmark’s imports of fish (up 65.1%) ahead of imported iron and steel as materials (up 20.1%).

The severest decline belongs to pharmaceuticals imported into Denmark, a -10.7% reduction year over year.

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 cars (4.3% of the Danish total), medication mixes in dosage (3.1%), processed petroleum oils (2.9%), crude oil (also 2.9%), electrical energy (2.6%), computers including optical readers (2.3%), phone devices including smartphones (2%), whole fresh fish (1.5%), petroleum gases (also 1.5%), and blood fractions including antisera (1.2%).

Denmark’s Major Mineral Fuels Imports

In 2022, Danish importers spent the most on the following 10 subcategories of mineral fuels-related products including oil.

1. Processed petroleum oils: US$3.7 billion (up 74.8% from 2021)
2. Crude oil: $3.7 billion (down -14.8%)
3. Electrical energy: $3.3 billion (up 105.3%)
4. Petroleum gases: $1.9 billion (up 78.6%)
5. Coal tar oils (high temperature distillation): $857.6 million (up 32.5%)
6. Petroleum oil residues: $134.2 million (down -0.8%)
7. Natural bitumen, asphalt, shale: $35.9 million (up 106.8%)
8. Petroleum jelly, mineral waxes: $24.9 million (up 43.6%)
9. Peat: $14.2 million (up 63.3%)
10. Coke, semi-coke: $12 million (up 91.6%)

Among these import subcategories, Danish purchases of natural bitumen, asphalt and shale (up 106.8%), electrical energy (up 105.3%) then coke or semi-coke (up 91.6%) grew at the fastest pace from 2021 to 2022.

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 2022, Danish importers spent the most on the following 10 subcategories of machinery including computers.

1. Computers, optical readers: US$2.9 billion (down -3.3% from 2021)
2. Taps, valves, similar appliances: $1 billion (up 7.3%)
3. Centrifuges, filters and purifiers: $626.1 million (down -9.1%)
4. Refrigerators, freezers: $623.6 million (up 0.8%)
5. Liquid pumps and elevators: $589.8 million (up 6.9%)
6. Machinery parts: $564.4 million (up 5.6%)
7. Miscellaneous machinery: $533 million (up 4.2%)
8. Transmission shafts, gears, clutches: $469.7 million (down -23.9%)
9. Air or vacuum pumps: $452.7 million (down -9.7%)
10. Heavy machinery (bulldozers, excavators, road rollers): $432.7 million (up 15.9%)

Among these import subcategories, Danish purchases of heavy machinery such as bulldozers, excavators and road rollers (up 15.9%), taps, valves plus similar appliances (up 7.3%), then liquid pumps and elevators (up 6.9%) grew at the fastest pace from 2021 to 2022.

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 2022, Danish importers spent the most on the following 10 subcategories of electrical goods including consumer electronics.

1. Phone devices including smartphones: US$2.5 billion (down -4.1% from 2021)
2. Insulated wire/cable: $781.4 million (up 16.9%)
3. TV receivers/monitors/projectors: $686.2 million (down -4.3%)
4. Solar power diodes/semi-conductors: $634.3 million (up 130.6%)
5. Lower-voltage switches, fuses: $569.4 million (up 4.9%)
6. Electrical/optical circuit boards, panels: $567.6 million (up 10.7%)
7. Integrated circuits/microassemblies: $544 million (up 36.8%)
8. Microphones/headphones/amps: $537.5 million (down -2.2%)
9. Electric motors, generators: $511.9 million (up 10.2%)
10. Electrical converters/power units: $447.2 million (down -52.1%)

Among these import subcategories, Danish purchases of solar power diodes and semi-conductors (up 130.6%), electronic integrated circuits or microassemblies (up 36.8%), then insulated wire and cable (up 16.9%) grew at the fastest pace from 2021 to 2022.

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 2022, Danish importers spent the most on the following 10 subcategories of vehicles.

1. Cars: US$5.4 billion (down -4.9% from 2021)
2. Trucks: $1 billion (down -1.5%)
3. Automobile parts/accessories: $975.3 million (down -4.9%)
4. Trailers: $630 million (down -1.2%)
5. Tractors: $402.8 million (up 25.5%)
6. Public-transport vehicles: $213.1 million (up 16.1%)
7. Motorcycle parts/accessories: $205.3 million (up 22.1%)
8. Motorcycles: $189.4 million (down -1%)
9. Chassis fitted with engine: $186.9 million (down -8.5%)
10. Bicycles, other non-motorized cycles: $145.5 million (up 5.9%)

Among these import subcategories, Danish purchases of tractors (up 25.5%), motorcycle parts or accessories (up 22.1%), then public-transport vehicles (up 16.1%) grew at the fastest pace from 2021 to 2022.

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 13, 2023

International Monetary Fund, Exchange Rates selected indicators (National Currency per U.S. dollar, period average). Accessed on April 13, 2023

Trade Map, International Trade Centre. Accessed on April 13, 2023

Investopedia, Net Exports Definition. Accessed on April 13, 2023

Wikipedia, Denmark. Accessed on April 13, 2023