Imports and exports in detail
From which countries does Denmark buy fruit and vegetables? To which countries does Denmark sell transport services? The statistics compile Denmark’s international trade based on a detailed breakdown on commodity groups, service groups and partner countries.
Selected statistics on Imports and exports in detail
International trade in goods crossing the border
The statistics are compiled on the basis of two main sources: Extrastat and Intrastat.
Extrastat covers Denmark's trade in goods (imports and exports) with non-EU countries (third country) on the basis of the data on customs and supplies reported by business enterprises to the Danish tax authorities concerning their trade in goods with countries outside the EU. Consequently, Extrastat is an administrative (secondary) source.
Intrastat is the system behind the statistics of the trade of goods between Denmark and the other EU countries. Prior to the introduction of EC's Single Market on 1 January 1993, this trade was also covered by the Extrastat-system. However, following the introduction of the Single Market, the requirement concerning customs and forwarding documents in connection with intra-EU trade was abolished. Consequently, Extrastat was no longer able to provide information about this trade and Intrastat was introduced on 1 January 1993.
In Intrastat, a statistical threshold is applied, based on the value of annual imports and exports to other EU Member States. The threshold on export is set by Statistics Denmark in compliance with the requirements of coverage stated in the EU legislation on Intrastat. The threshold for import is set with a view to ensuring the quality of the statistical product. Enterprises whose annual EU trade is below the limits for export or import are exempted from reporting detailed data under the Intrastat system. The Intrastat thresholds are set at levels where the enterprises reporting to Intrastat amount to minimum 81 per cent of the total value of EU imports and minimum 95 per cent of EU exports.
In addition to Intrastat and Extrastat, data from other sources are received for certain specific goods: - Vessels and aircraft: Data are obtained from the Danish Maritime Authority and the Danish Transport Authority. - Sea products: Data are obtained from the Danish Fisheries Agency. - Natural gas: Calculated using a combination of administratively determined average prices and collected meter measurements at the Danish border. Trade is recorded for countries to/from which Denmark has pipelines. A simple netting of gas volumes to/from Norway and Poland is carried out in order to exclude the transit of gas through the Baltic Pipe. - Electricity: Trade in electricity is based on meter measurements at the border, while price information is obtained from the Nordic electricity spot market. - Private purchases (internet trade): Calculated using a combination of customs declarations, data from the Danish Tax Agency’s VAT systems (OSS), and exchanged export data from other EU countries.
International trade in services
The most important source of the statistics is Survey on international trade in services, a combination of monthly reports from approx. 390 firms and annual reports from approx. 1300 firms. The statistical population for Survey on international trade in services is assumed to consist of approx. 40.000 units (cvr. numbers), which according to different assumptions are considered to be covering the total foreign trade in services. Supplementary information from other sources on travel as well as on other items is used. Most important source for travel revenues is the interviews with foreign travelers in Denmark which is carried out in cooperation with VisitDenmark. Travel expenditure is compiled using different information on consumption by Danes abroad, number of nights abroad, and transport abroad from statistics from other countries. Information on public services is provided through statistics on public finance. Private consumers import of electronic services from abroad is estimated on data derived from the Mini One Stop Shop (MOSS) VAT system. The MOSS system captures sales of electronically delivered services to non-taxable Danish residents. This data is supplemented with an estimate of gambling services based on the statement of income from betting, lotteries and casino business from the Danish gaming authorities. Other sources are estimates of illegal trade across the border.
Development in exports and imports of goods crossing the border
The statistics are compiled on the basis of two main sources: Extrastat and Intrastat.
Extrastat covers Denmark's trade in goods (imports and exports) with non-EU countries (third country) on the basis of the data on customs and supplies reported by business enterprises to the Danish tax authorities concerning their trade in goods with countries outside the EU. Consequently, Extrastat is an administrative (secondary) source.
Intrastat is the system behind the statistics of the trade of goods between Denmark and the other EU countries. Prior to the introduction of EC's Single Market on 1 January 1993, this trade was also covered by the Extrastat-system. However, following the introduction of the Single Market, the requirement concerning customs and forwarding documents in connection with intra-EU trade was abolished. Consequently, Extrastat was no longer able to provide information about this trade and Intrastat was introduced on 1 January 1993.
In Intrastat, a statistical threshold is applied, based on the value of annual imports and exports to other EU Member States. The threshold on export is set by Statistics Denmark in compliance with the requirements of coverage stated in the EU legislation on Intrastat. The threshold for import is set with a view to ensuring the quality of the statistical product. Enterprises whose annual EU trade is below the limits for export or import are exempted from reporting detailed data under the Intrastat system. The Intrastat thresholds are set at levels where the enterprises reporting to Intrastat amount to minimum 81 per cent of the total value of EU imports and minimum 95 per cent of EU exports.
In addition to Intrastat and Extrastat, data from other sources are received for certain specific goods: - Vessels and aircraft: Data are obtained from the Danish Maritime Authority and the Danish Transport Authority. - Sea products: Data are obtained from the Danish Fisheries Agency. - Natural gas: Calculated using a combination of administratively determined average prices and collected meter measurements at the Danish border. Trade is recorded for countries to/from which Denmark has pipelines. A simple netting of gas volumes to/from Norway and Poland is carried out in order to exclude the transit of gas through the Baltic Pipe. - Electricity: Trade in electricity is based on meter measurements at the border, while price information is obtained from the Nordic electricity spot market. - Private purchases (internet trade): Calculated using a combination of customs declarations, data from the Danish Tax Agency’s VAT systems (OSS), and exchanged export data from other EU countries.
Development in exports and imports of services
3.1 Source data (s18.1): The statistics are compiled based on several surveys, statistics, and administrative data. The most important sources are:
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Statistics on international trade in goods, including supplementary information on the nature of individual transactions.
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Statistics on international trade in services.
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Supplementary information about businesses collected in the international trade in services survey: trade in goods not crossing the Danish border, price adjustment of goods that have crossed the Danish border.
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Unilateral transfers to and from abroad. Trade in non-produced non-financial assets with foreign countries (e.g., trademarks licenses and football players' licenses to play club football).
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Insurance premiums and claims to and from abroad.
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Danmarks Nationalbank’s compilation of Danish residents' investment income to and from abroad.
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Information about public administration and service (government financial statistics).
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Information about Danish residents' wages and transfers from abroad and foreign residents' wages and transfers from Denmark.
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Information on the import of illegal goods.
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Survey of foreign embassies and international organisations' consumption in Denmark
On the statistics – documentation, sources and method
See the documentation of statistics to learn more:
The purpose of these statistics is to give information on the magnitude and composition of the turnover of organic foods in external trade. The survey was conducted the first time for the year 2003 with the Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Fisheries.
The statistics shows the development in Denmark's external trade in goods at a detailed level (imports and exports) by country and type of commodity. The statistics have been compiled regularly since 1838 covering 1836 and onwards.
Foreign trade in services describes the trade in services (imports and exports) with other countries. The trade is described both in terms of type of services and in terms of partner country/area. The statistics were introduced in connection with the termination of the settlement statistics in Danmarks Nationalbank by new-year 2004/05, cf. Balance of payments.