The economy in Denmark is largely dependent on imported raw materials and foreign trade. However, it is a net exporter of energy and food, so the international freight market is highly developed in Denmark.

Denmark’s main exports are instruments, industrial machinery and food products. The United States of America is Denmark’s largest trading partner outside Europe, with freight forwarding highly streamlined between Denmark and the United States, as well as all European countries.

The standard of living in Denmark is amongst the highest in the world and the economy is essentially strong, with growth averaging nearly 3% every year since the mid 90s. Denmark is also renowned for having one of the world’s very best transport systems, which makes it something of a global blueprint for efficient freight services.

This is illustrated by the fact that in 2000, Copenhagen Airport was named the world’s best airport by the International Air Transport Organisation. In fact, 2000 was a high point in terms of the Danish freight transport infrastructure as it was also the year that the 8 kilometre Oresund Bridge, linking Denmark and Sweden was completed.

In January 2008, the Danish Infrastructure Commission published a plan called‘The Danish Infrastructure 2030’ setting out how the country will continue to improve its transport infrastructure, to build further on its already strong position and meet the challenges of the future. This will be positive for the efficiency of freight services to and from the country.

The main aim of the plan is to address issues of increased congestion on the road and rail networks, as traffic levels have been growing over the last decade and are expected to continue to grow. Unless addressed, this would put increasing pressure on freight forwarding solutions and create logistical dilemmas for shipping companies.

On the national road network, the shipping company faces the greatest congestion problems in the Copenhagen area and in Eastern Jutland, in

particular the Triangle Region, Kolding-Vejle Fredericia.

On the rail network, as it is already at capacity on certain lines, there is limited potential to add extra services, without further development. This is a constraint on the potential for efficient international freight. The Danish Infrastructure Commission predicts that traffic on the national road network will increase by 70% by 2030, creating big congestion problems on the motorway network and feeder routes.

For the recent past, the freight transport infrastructure in Denmark has been based on ‘The Big H’. This is the major road and railway network that connects Denmark from east to west and from north to south. In addition, The Big H provides excellent links to neighbouring countries that are essential to trade and, as a result, to the freight company.

Although the Big H remains as the basis of the infrastructure plan for the future, it is planned to expand capacity in corridors where additional traffic is expected.

This will include a number of ring connections around Copenhagen, efficient secondary links from the main regions to The Big H, and a focus on gateways to the rest of the world, safeguarding a bright future for international freight and freight forwarding in Denmark.

Moreover, the importance the country places on its transport infrastructure and the quality of its future infrastructure planning means that Denmark is a vital blueprint for the freight services industry worldwide.