DK plus three characters
UN/LOCODEs for Denmark begin with DK. Examples in the indexed sample include DKAHS for Aarhus, DKCOP for Copenhagen, DKABG for Aalborg and DKFRE for Fredericia.
Seaports in Denmark: Port Codes, Throughput & Regional Guide (2026)
Denmark has 185 ports and terminals indexed in the Ecer Freight database, supporting North Sea, Baltic and Scandinavian maritime trade.
Explore Denmark port codes, major cargo gateways, regional port clusters and practical shipping routes.
Denmark Port Overview
Denmark is a maritime trading country positioned between the North Sea and the Baltic Sea. Its ports serve containerised cargo, Ro-Ro and ferry traffic, dry bulk, liquid bulk, project cargo and offshore energy supply chains. Port counts below distinguish Ecer Freight’s indexed coverage from national port authority and statistical measures.
185
Denmark ports & terminals indexed in our database
Ecer Freight database · Oct 2026
90.5m t
Port freight handled, 2024 official statistical basis; YoY varies by port
Statistics Denmark · 2024 maritime statistics
1.5m TEU
Container throughput, 2024 reported port-market estimate; YoY not harmonised nationally
Danish port reports · 2024
—
National berth total, 2025; no single harmonised official series published
Danish Maritime Authority · 2025 information
How many seaports does Denmark have?
Denmark has 185 seaports and terminals indexed by Ecer Freight as of the October 2026 database snapshot. This is an indexed coverage figure, not a legal or statutory count of every harbour facility.
Which are Denmark’s largest or busiest cargo gateways?
Aarhus (DKAHS) is generally regarded as Denmark’s leading container gateway, while Copenhagen (DKCOP) serves a broad metropolitan, ferry, cruise and cargo market. Aalborg (DKABG) and Fredericia (DKFRE) are also important cargo ports.
Which regions handle most Denmark freight?
The main cargo clusters are the Øresund and Copenhagen area, eastern Jutland around Aarhus and Fredericia, and northern Jutland around Aalborg. Port roles differ by container, ferry, bulk, energy and industrial cargo.
Top Denmark Ports by Cargo Role
The table highlights the leading ports in the indexed sample. World container rankings and 2025 throughput are shown only where a comparable, port-specific public figure can be verified; national and port-authority reporting may use different scopes.
Selected Denmark ports and terminals; 2025 comparable TEU data subject to confirmation.
| World rank | Port | UN-LOCODE | 2025 throughput (M TEU) | YoY change | Region |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | Copenhagen | DKCOP | — | — | Zealand and Øresund |
| — | Aarhus | DKAHS | — | — | Eastern Jutland |
| — | Aalborg | DKABG | — | — | Northern Jutland |
| — | Fredericia | DKFRE | — | — | Little Belt and Triangle Region |
| — | Vordingborg Sydhavnen | DKVBS | — | — | South Zealand |
| — | Nakskov | DKNKV | — | — | Lolland and Baltic approaches |
| — | Kalundborg | DKKAL | — | — | Western Zealand |
| — | Esbjerg | DKESB | — | — | Western Jutland and North Sea |
Denmark Port Regions and Cargo Specialisations
Zealand and Øresund
Ports around Zealand connect the Copenhagen metropolitan market with Sweden, the Baltic region, ferry networks and international liner services.
Selected ports in Zealand and the Øresund area
| Port | UN-LOCODE | City / Province | Main cargo role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Copenhagen | DKCOP | Copenhagen / — | Containers, Ro-Ro, cruise and general cargo |
| Copenhagen | DKCPH | Copenhagen / — | City-port and terminal reference |
| Vordingborg Sydhavnen | DKVBS | Vordingborg Sydhavnen / — | Bulk, construction and regional cargo |
| Koge | DKKOG | Koge / — | Bulk, agricultural and general cargo |
| Naestved | DKNAE | Naestved / — | Regional bulk and general cargo |
| Kalundborg | DKKAL | Kalundborg / — | Industrial, liquid bulk and general cargo |
Eastern and Central Jutland
Eastern Jutland is a major industrial and distribution corridor. Aarhus and Fredericia serve container, Ro-Ro, bulk and manufacturing supply chains.
Selected ports in eastern and central Jutland
| Port | UN-LOCODE | City / Province | Main cargo role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aarhus | DKAHS | Aarhus / — | Containers, Ro-Ro, bulk and general cargo |
| Fredericia | DKFRE | — / — | Energy, liquid bulk, dry bulk and industrial cargo |
| Fredericia | DKFRC | Fredericia / — | Terminal and city-level cargo reference |
| Odense | DKODE | Odense / — | Project, industrial and general cargo |
| Grenaa | DKGRE | Grenaa / — | Ferry, Ro-Ro, project and bulk cargo |
| Horsens | DKHOR | Horsens / — | Regional industrial and general cargo |
Northern Jutland and Skagerrak
Northern Jutland ports provide access to the Skagerrak and North Sea, with ferry, fishing, bulk, energy and regional cargo functions.
Selected ports in northern Jutland
| Port | UN-LOCODE | City / Province | Main cargo role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aalborg | DKABG | Aalborg / — | Bulk, containers, project and industrial cargo |
| Aalborg | DKAAL | Aalborg / — | Terminal and city-level cargo reference |
| Skagen | DKSKN | Skagen / — | Fishing, service, bulk and offshore support |
| Hirtshals | DKHIR | Hirtshals / — | Ferries, Ro-Ro, vehicles and seafood |
| Frederikshavn | DKFDH | Frederikshavn / — | Ferries, Ro-Ro, repair and general cargo |
| Hadsund | DKHSD | Hadsund / — | Regional bulk and general cargo |
Western Jutland and the North Sea
The western coast supports North Sea logistics, offshore energy, bulk commodities, project cargo and industrial distribution.
Selected ports in western Jutland
| Port | UN-LOCODE | City / Province | Main cargo role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Esbjerg | DKESB | Esbjerg / — | Offshore energy, project, Ro-Ro and general cargo |
| Skaerbaek | DKSKK | Skaerbaek / — | Regional and industrial cargo |
| Lemvig | DKLEM | Lemvig / — | Bulk and local industrial cargo |
| Struer | DKSTR | Struer / — | Regional general and bulk cargo |
| Holbaek | DKHOL | Holbaek / — | Regional dry bulk and general cargo |
Denmark Port Codes and UN/LOCODEs
Denmark port codes normally use the DK country prefix followed by a three-character location identifier. A code in a commercial database should be checked against the specific terminal, city and transport document requirements.
City and terminal references
A city-level code and a terminal-level or alternate database record can both appear for the same cargo area. DKCOP and DKCPH, or DKFRE and DKFRC, should therefore be matched to the actual bill of lading and terminal instruction.
How to verify a code
Verify the location against the UNECE UN/LOCODE reference, the carrier booking system and the relevant port authority. The Ecer Freight port directory provides an additional searchable reference.
Shipping from Denmark: Main Trade Lanes
Denmark’s shipping patterns reflect its position between continental Europe, Scandinavia, the United Kingdom and overseas markets. Transit times are indicative and depend on the port pair, service string, transshipment and seasonal operations.
Denmark to Northern Europe
Short-sea services connect Denmark with Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium and neighbouring North Sea markets.
Denmark to Scandinavia and the Baltic
Ferry, Ro-Ro and feeder networks support trade with Sweden, Norway, Finland, Poland and the Baltic states.
Denmark to the United Kingdom and Ireland
Cargo may move by direct short-sea services or through North Sea hub connections, with schedules subject to carrier rotation.
Denmark to Asia and North America
Long-haul container cargo generally uses Northern European hub calls and direct or transshipment services to Asia and North America.
Data Sources and Methodology
Port coverage, code presentation and commercial routing context are combined with public statistical and institutional sources. Throughput figures are not inferred from the number of indexed locations.
- Ecer Freight Ports Database — first-party database snapshot dated October 2026, with 185 Denmark ports and terminals indexed.
- UNECE UN/LOCODE — location-code structure and official location-reference methodology.
- Statistics Denmark — national maritime transport and port freight statistics, including the latest complete statistical series used where available.
- Danish Maritime Authority — maritime administration, port and shipping context, checked for 2025–2026 information.
- Port of Aarhus — port-specific cargo, terminal and operational context.
Denmark Seaport FAQ
How many seaports does Denmark have?
Denmark has 185 seaports and terminals indexed by Ecer Freight in the October 2026 snapshot. The figure describes database coverage rather than a statutory national harbour count.
What is the main container port in Denmark?
Aarhus (DKAHS) is generally recognised as Denmark’s principal container gateway. Copenhagen (DKCOP) is also an important metropolitan, ferry, cruise and cargo port.
What are the main cargo regions in Denmark?
The main regions are Zealand and Øresund, eastern and central Jutland, northern Jutland and western Jutland. Their cargo mixes include containers, Ro-Ro, bulk, energy, project and general cargo.
How are Denmark port codes formatted?
Denmark UN/LOCODEs use the DK country prefix followed by three location characters, such as DKAHS for Aarhus, DKCOP for Copenhagen and DKABG for Aalborg. The exact code should be confirmed with the carrier and terminal.
Are the throughput figures rankings of all Denmark ports?
No. Indexed port coverage and global TEU league-table rankings are different measures. Public reporting can use different terminal, port-group and calendar-year scopes, so comparable 2025 figures require confirmation from the relevant port authority or carrier.
How current is the Denmark port information?
The first-party database snapshot is October 2026, while 2025 is treated as the most recent complete statistical year. Port schedules, rates, restrictions and operational conditions remain subject to confirmation.
How can a shipper request Denmark sea freight rates?
For an accurate quote, provide origin and destination, cargo description, package details, weight, volume, container type, Incoterms, ready date and any dangerous-goods or temperature-control requirements. FCL and LCL quote tools are available on the relevant rate pages.
Editorial note: This Denmark port guide combines Ecer Freight’s first-party port index with UNECE, Statistics Denmark, Danish Maritime Authority and port-authority material. Database coverage is reviewed quarterly; throughput, schedules, rankings and operational details may change as authorities publish revised or new annual data.
Ecer Freight · Seaports in Denmark: Port Codes, Throughput & Regional Guide (2026) · Data reviewed quarterly · Port Codes · Ports by Country · Contact