Exports of organic foods from Denmark increased 40 percent in 2008. Denmark’s organic exports in 2008 were DKK 653 million. Økologisk Landsforening (Danish National Organic Association) was pleasantly surprised to note that the Danish organic companies have succeeded once again in increasing their exports.

“The increase relative to the 2007 level is a pleasant surprise. Further growth was not expected due to the financial situation and because growth in 2007 had been incredibly high at 73 percent,” says Klaus Bentzen, who is Export Manager at Økologisk Landsforening.

Dairy products and eggs accounted for the largest increase (77 percent) and these products account for 45 percent of total organic exports. Exports of organic meat and meat products fell 9 percent from 2007 to 2008.

This fall was expected because Friland lost its biggest contract on the UK market in 2008. However, in 2009, Friland recuperated all its losses and more on other markets, primarily Germany and France.

Joint export campaigns bring results
Increasing exports are evidence that Danish companies have their finger on the pulse of their home markets and that the strategy to carry out joint export campaigns for the entire organic sector has worked.

“In the organic sector, companies work together on export campaigns. This unique form of cooperation means that we work together to offer foreign retail chains an attractive, broad-based package of high-quality Danish organic foods,” says Klaus Bentzen. He continues:

“In 2005, we set our target: tripling organic exports within a period of 3-4 years. The latest figures reveal that the strategy is effective. The signs are that we will already have reached our target in 2009. And when we get the figures for 2009, we expect to see the effect of the largest joint export campaign ever by Danish organic producers at the world’s largest organic fair, BioFach 09, where Denmark was nominated ‘Organic Country of the Year’”.

Imports larger than exports
Imports of organic food products rose by 68 percent to DKK 1,383 billion in 2008. Imports of organic fruit and vegetables increased by an impressive 50 percent and now amount to DKK 500 million. The figures indicate that we need to increase production of organic fruit and vegetables in this country.

“We are pleased that the Danish Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Fisheries recently published a report that advised improvements to general conditions for producing organic fruit and vegetables in Denmark,” says Klaus Bentzen.