Statistical presentation

Data description

The statistics show Denmark’s imports and exports of goods from/to all countries in the world distributed by about 9,300 different commodity codes recorded by value, net weight in kilograms and any supplementary unit (e.g. liters, units or square meters).

The indices calculated are based on the same microdata as the statistics International trade in goods.

Classification system

Commodity classifications are based on the groupings in the EU's Combined Nomenclature (CN). Furthermore, when statistical data are published, the current version of the UN's Standard Trade Classification (SITC) is applied.

The Combined Nomenclature (CN) is the merchandise nomenclature applied by the EU when reporting data on EU trade and trade with non-EU countries. In the Danish External Trade in Goods Statistics the most detailed statistics published are classified according to the Combined Nomenclature. The Combined Nomenclature consists of around 9,300 commodity codes. A detailed description of the CN codes is available in the EU Official Journal dissemination of Combined Nomenclature.

When disseminating External Trade in Goods Statistics by broader commodity groups, the Standard International Trade Classification (SITC) Revision 4 is mostly used. The SITC Revision 4 has been used in the Danish external trade statistics since 1 January 2007 and consists of 2,970 5-digit commodity items, which can be aggregated to 1,033 4-digits, 260 3-digits, 66 2-digits, and 10 1-digit commodity items. Statistics on periods before 2007 are disseminated using older revisions of the SITC classification. The SITC classification was revised in 2007 because of a major revision in the Harmonized System (HS) Nomenclature which is the base for the SITC classification.

The distribution by partner countries is done according to the Geonomenclature of Eurostat which classified more than 200 different countries and territories.

Sector coverage

Not applicable.

Statistical concepts and definitions

Partner Country: The country distribution is conducted in accordance with Eurostat's Geo-nomenclature classifying about 200 different countries and territories. In Extrastat import, the partner country is the country of origin in most cases. In Intrastat import, the partner country is the country of consignment. In Extrastat and Intrastat export, the partner country is the country of destination.

Specific goods and movements: A range of goods and movements of goods differ from the general external trade and in such cases the statistics are compiled according to other principles, e.g. vessels and aircraft, stores and supplies, sea products, electricity and natural gas.

Statistical value: The value of the external trade is published as the so-called statistical value. For imports this value is called the cif-value (cost, insurance and freight), i.e. the value of the commodity at the Danish border or sea port, including the service costs connected to the delivery of the commodity to the Danish border, e.g. transport costs and insurance.

For exports the statistical value is equal to the fob-value (free on board), i.e. the value of the commodity at the point of export at the Danish border, including the costs connected to the transport of the commodity from the exporter to the export point at the Danish border or sea port.

Trade systems: External trade can be compiled according to two different principles: the general trade system and the special trade system.

General trade comprises all goods being moved into or out of the country, unless exceptions have been laid down in special rules (see below). Thus, imports cover all goods entering the country, including goods intended for re-export or goods that are, in actual fact, re-exported. Similarly, exports cover all goods leaving the country, whether processed in the country or have previously been imported (re-export).

External trade according to the special trade system excludes transactions between other countries and Danish customs bonded warehouses. Goods imported to a bonded warehouse are thus excluded from external trade based on the special trade principle and are only included when the goods are declared by the customs to Denmark.

Goods in transit, i.e. goods that are only being transported through the country, are excluded from the external trade statistics for special trade as well as general trade. In connection with a revision of the external trade data in 1997, data from 1988 and onwards were revised according to the general trade system. However, the statistical office of the EU, Eurostat, publishes external trade statistics for the member states using the special trade system. Consequently, there are nominal differences between Statistics Denmark's and Eurostat's figures for Danish external trade in goods.

In connection with a revision of the external trade data in 1997, data from 1988 and onwards were revised according to the general trade system. However, the statistical office of the EU, Eurostat, publishes external trade statistics for the member states using the special trade system. Consequently, there are nominal differences between Statistics Denmark's and Eurostat's figures for Danish external trade in goods.

Statistical unit

The units are cross-border goods transactions carried out by companies and private individuals, broken down by product and product groups, as well as by countries and country groups.

Statistical population

This statistic covers all goods that either add to or subtract from Denmark’s material resources when goods are imported into or exported from Denmark’s economic territory. The statistics therefore follow international guidelines regarding what should be recorded in statistics on foreign trade in goods. In practice, this means that the statistics cover all Danish companies that trade goods to and from abroad. To a large extent, transactions by private individuals are also included in the statistics; however, there is greater uncertainty for periods up to and including 2021, as figures for trade by private individuals for these periods are largely estimated.

Reference area

The statistics cover Denmark’s imports and exports of goods from/to all countries in the world. The statistics do not cover the External trade of the Faroe Islands and Greenland.

Time coverage

The statistics cover the period from 1988 and onwards. Time series covering previous years are only available in paper publications and are described further in section ‘Comparability – over time’.

Base period

In the indices covering External Trade of Goods the base period is 2015 for the Volume and Unit Value Indices.

Unit of measure

The units of measure in the statistics are value in Danish crowns (DKK), net weight in kilograms and for many commodity codes also a supplementary unit (e.g. litres, units or square metres), all distributedby commodity codes and partner countries.

Reference period

Calendar month

Frequency of dissemination

The statistics are published monthly.

Legal acts and other agreements

The legal basis for data collection is found in the Act on Statistics Denmark, cf. Consolidation Act No. 1189 of 21 December 1992, most recently amended by the Ministry of Economic Affairs and the Interior’s Consolidation Act No. 610 of 30 May 2018. Executive Order No. 2419 of 10 December 2021 on the provision of statistical information on trade in goods with EU countries and trade in seagoing vessels and aircraft. Regulation (EC) No. 223/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 March 2009 on European statistics and repealing Regulation (EC, Euratom) No. 1101/2008 on the transmission of confidential statistical data to the Statistical Office of the European Communities, Council Regulation (EC) No. 322/97 on Community statistics, and Council Decision 89/382/EEC, Euratom establishing a Committee on the Statistical Programmes of the European Communities (Text with relevance for the EEA and Switzerland), including subsequent amendments. EU legislation on business statistics Regulation (EU) 2019/2152 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 November 2019 on European business statistics and repealing ten legal acts in the field of business statistics. Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/1197 of 30 July 2020 laying down technical specifications and arrangements pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2019/2152 of the European Parliament and of the Council on European business statistics and repealing ten legal acts in the field of business statistics.

Nomenclatures Council Regulation (EEC) No. 2658/87 of 23 July 1987 on the tariff and statistical nomenclature and on the Common Customs Tariff, including subsequent amendments. Commission Regulation (EC) No. 1779/2002 of 4 October 2002 on the statistical nomenclature of countries and territories for the external trade statistics of the Community and statistics of trade between its Member States, including subsequent amendments.

Customs legislation Regulation (EU) No. 952/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 9 October 2013 laying down the Union Customs Code, including subsequent amendments and related implementing and delegated acts.

Cost and burden

For Intrastat, the reporting burden is estimated at approximately DKK 35 million (calculated in 2020 prices) in 2025, distributed across about 4,500 companies. As an administrative source, Extrastat, on the other hand, does not impose any additional reporting burden on companies.

Comment

External Trade in Goods has a subject page.