Distributing a product

Evolution of the sector

The Danish population has one of the highest income levels in the European Union. The Danish consumer therefore is one of most demanding in Europe.
The retail market is well developed in all segments. Retail sales have exceeded 50 billion USD in 2010. The sector has seen significant consolidation over the past decade, including large retail chains, to the detriment of small and independent specialty stores, particularly in the food trade and clothing. Due to the 2008-2009 recession, bankruptcies have increased among retailers..

Market shares

Contrary to other European countries, neighborhood stores play an important role in the Danish distribution market. According to the Danish office of statistics, in 2004 there were 23,573 legal entities registered in the wholesale trade and 26,335 entities in the retail trade.

The mass-market sector is dominated by two groups:

- the consumer co-op F.D.B, which is the leading Danish distributor (with 33% of the market-share in 2003) and owner of many stores like Kvickly, Brugsen, OBS, Irma and Fakta. F.D.B supplies 1,200 points-of-sale (hypermarkets, supermarkets, mini-markets and discount stores).

- the group Dansk super-marked with 465 points-of-sale; its main stores being Bilka and Netto

The 3 large chain stores in Denmark are:

- Magasin du Nord

- Illum. Although competitors to one another, Illum and Magasin du Nord belong to the same group of Icelandic origin known asBaugur Groupe.

- Salling, part of the Dansk Supermarked group.

Shopping centers and malls generated a sales turnover of EUR 5,5 billion in 2003 equal to 20% of the retail trade. The main shopping center is Field's Copenhagen with an area of 115,000 square meters.

The evolution of distribution circuits is characterized by mergers of central buying offices and the creation of new chains allowing their members to supply themselves at lower cost and thus consolidate their positions in the market.

Organizations in the retail sector

We can identify professional tradeshows on your sector.

Market access procedures

International Conventions

Member of World Trade Organisation
Member of OECD
Party to the Kyoto protocol
Party to the Washington convention on International trade in endangered species of wild fauna and flora
Party to the Basel convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their disposal
Party to the Montreal protocol on Substances that deplete the Ozone Layer
Wassenaar arrangement on export controls for conventional arms and dual-use goods and technologies
Party of the International coffee agreement 2001

Main International economic cooperation

Denmark is a member of EU Customs Union. It is also a member of ASEM and since it is an EU country, Denmark has multilateral and bilateral agreements with many countries.

Non tariff barriers

In accordance with its European Union membership, Denmark applies the European Union (EU) rules that are in force in all European Union countries. While the EU has a rather liberal foreign trade policy, there is a certain number of restrictions, especially on farm products, following the implementation of the CAP (Common Agricultural Policy): the application of compensations on import and export of farm products aimed at favoring the development of agriculture within the EU, implies a certain number of control and regulation systems for the goods entering the EU territory.

Customs duties and taxes on imports

Operations carried out within the EEA are free of duty.
The Common Customs Tariff of the European Union applies to goods originating outside Europe. Generally the duty is relatively low, especially for industrial products (4.2% on average).

Customs classification

The Combined Nomenclature of the European Community (EC) integrates the HS nomenclature and supplements it with its own subheadings with an eight-digit code number and its own Legal Notes created for Community purposes.

Import procedures

For goods of a value under 1000kg or EUR1000, a verbal declaration at Customs, and presenting the invoice, is sufficient.
For higher values, you must deposit at the Customs office:
1) a brief declaration (air or maritime manifest) to conclude the collection of the goods.
2) a common law declaration (SAD, single administrative document), as well as the accompanying documents to allow their clearance.
The SAD form can be obtained from Chambers of Commerce or an approved printer. A computerized Customs clearance platform (SOFI: International freight computer system) can be accessed in Customs offices or in some Chambers of Commerce.

 

In the case of deliveries and purchases within the European Community, the declaration of exchange of goods (DEB) or Intrastat declaration must be sent to the Customs service.

As part of the "SAFE" standards advocated by the World Customs Organization (WCO), the European Union has set up a new system of import controls, the "Import Control System" (ICS), which aims to secure the flow of goods at the time of their entry into the customs territory of the EU. This control system, part of the Community Program eCustomer, has been in effect since January 1, 2011. Since then, operators are required to pass an Entry Summary Declaration (ENS) to the customs of the country of entry, prior to the introduction of goods into the customs territory of the European Union.

Importing samples

For the import, export and re-export of commercial samples the ATA (Temporary Admission) book can be used. It must be written on the product that it is a free sample and that it may not be sold.

For further information

Ministry of trade

We can indicate you which are the customs duties applied to your product.

Find out the local taxes that apply to your product.

Organizing goods transport

Main useful means of transport

The largest railway operator in Denmark is Danske Statsbaner (DSB) — Danish State Railways. Arriva operates some routes in Jutland, and several other smaller operators provide local services, mainly outside the Aalborg area.

There is a traditional suburban train network in the greater Copenhagen area. S-trains (in Danish: S-tog ) are electric trains connecting the city center with the suburbs of Copenhagen. The numerous trains leave at 10 or 20 minute intervals. S-trains run from 05:00 hours (weekdays) (06:00 Sundays) until about 0:30 hours.

An automated driverless rail rapid transit system serving Copenhagen and Frederiksberg. The system opened in 2002 and currently has two lines with 22 stations and 21.3 km of track.

More information on Transport info website.

Ports

Port of Copenhagen
Port of Arhus
Scandlines

Airports

Copenhagen Airport

Sea transport organizations

Ministry of transport

Air transport organizations

Ministry of transport

Road transport organizations

Ministry of transport

Rail transport organizations

Ministry of transport

Get a ballpark figure for transportation costs for your product in this country through a shipping estimate.

Identifying a supplier

Type of production

Manufacture (21,30%), Commerce, hotels and restaurants (12,41%), Financial services (19, 81%), Public service (19,53%), Transport and telecommunication (19,81%).

Business directories

White and Yellow Pages
Yellow Pages
White Pages

Manufacturers associations of the main industries

Danish wind industry association
Bio energy sector
Danish Federation of Textile Industries

Trade Agencies and their representations abroad

Danish Chamber of Commerce

Enterprises federation

Danish Federation of Small and Medium Enterprises

Standards

National standards organizations

Danish Standards Association

Integration in the international standards network

Denmark is a member of:
- The International Standard Organization (ISO);

 

- The International Electrotechnichal Commission (IEC);

- The European Committee for Standardization (CEN);

- The Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM).

Classification of standards

All new EU standards must be approved as Danish standards and they get the title DS/EN. If a standard initially is international and gets the status of a EU and Danish standards then the title is DS/EN ISO. Like e.g. DS/EN ISO 9001 which is the standard for quality management.

Online consultation of standards

Publication of standards is entrusted by the Danish Standards Association. On their website you can see a complete list of standards.

Certification organizations

Danish Certification of Standards

Find out the standards and labelling requirements that apply to your products.

Intellectual Property

National organizations

The Committee of Normalization and Metrology is the body working out the laws of standardization and approval in Denmark. Consult also the Copyright Division. The purpose is to harmonize these standards with the European ones. The standard ISO 9000 is a factor of competitiveness, although it is optional.

Regional organizations

European Patent office

International membership

Member of the WIPO (World Intellectual Property Organization)
Signatory to the Paris Convention for the Protection of Intellectual Property
Membership to the TRIPS agreement - Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS)