Despite the large overcapacity of ships on the international market, the Danish Shipowners Association's figures from the beginning of January 2013 show that the total foreign currency earnings in 2012 for the Danish shipping industry was in the region of DKK195 billion (USD34.7 billion), reports Maritime Denmark.
The figure will thus be in line with or even exceeding the record year of 2008 as the largest in Danish shipping history. It underlines the industry's position as the largest single contributor to the Danish balance of payments.
This growth was due to, not least, the companies' increasing involvement in the form of chartered vessels in addition to their own.
"To reach a record high foreign currency earnings in a global crisis like this is impressive. Danish shipping companies also face many challenges in these years, but we have been on the pitch and is as an old seafaring nation also prepared to handle difficult times", says Deputy Director of the Danish Shipowners Association, Fritz Hansen.
Hansen hopes and believes that 2013 may be in line with, or even surpass, 2012 in terms of foreign currency earnings.
The Danish merchant fleet has also experienced a net gain of 18 ships in 2012. Growth is especially resting in supplies of newly built special ships for the offshore industry.
Source: Maritime Denmark
Image Source: Danish Shipowners Association