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Danish Environmental Exports of Products and Consultancy Services within the Water Sector in 1999

4 Danish environmental exports within the water sector

4.1 Product exports
The value of product exports to the water sector was calculated in 1998 as more than EUR 0.22bn., equal to 0.5% of Denmark’s total exports in 1998.

Companies exporting to the water sector employed a total of 4,400 people in Denmark in 1998, and the value of their exports made up 63% of their total turnover. Exports from the water sector thus create employment for 2,800 people in Denmark. To this can be added a proportion of the 1,800 people employed by the same companies at workplaces abroad.

A total of 46 companies regarded as exporters of products to the water sector were asked about the size of their exports. 29 of these companies state that they exported products to the water sector in 1998. Calculated by value, exports to the water sector come mainly from very few companies. Five companies thus account for more than 80% of exports:

Half of the product exports involves water supply, 43% originate from products for groundwater boring and pipeline networks, while 7% are products for water treatment (oxygenation, filtration and dosing equipment). Exports concerning wastewater account for an amount roughly the same size as water supply. 35% of exports come from products for wastewater and sludge treatment, and 14% from products for sewerage. None of the companies asked exported products in 1998 for the soil and groundwater environment or for analysis, measurement and control. Other products make up 1% of entire exports.

Two thirds of the entire product exports to the water sector go to Europe: 36% to the Nordic countries, Germany and Great Britain, 19% to the rest of Western Europe, and 12% to Central and Eastern Europe. 17% of exports go to Asia and 11% to the USA, Canada, Australia etc. Africa accounts for 4%, and South and Central America for 1%.

Viewing the country distribution of exports and the breakdown by product type simultaneously, the greatest individual export item is products for groundwater boring and pipeline networks in Western Europe. It covers a quarter of the entire exports to the water sector. Product exports for groundwater boring and pipeline networks in Asia and the USA, Canada, Australia etc. each accounts for an additional 6-7% of total exports.

The second-largest individual item is the exports of products for wastewater and sludge treatment in Western Europe, making up 17% of total exports. It is also worth noting that 9% of total exports, or one quarter of product exports for wastewater and sludge treatment, goes to Asia.

Geographically, the exports of products for water treatment are somewhat less concentrated on local areas and more spread over the regions than other products, but just as for sewerage products it is true that Central and Eastern Europe accounts for a proportionately large share of exports in the product line (just under 30%).

4.2 Consultancy exports
The value of consultancy service exports to the water sector in 1998 was calculated at EUR 43m.

Consultancy companies exporting to the water sector in 1998 employed a total of 4,400 staff in Denmark, and exports comprised 11% of their total turnover. Exports thus provide employment for 500 people in Denmark. To this can then be added a share of the 1,800 people employed by the same companies at workplaces abroad.

The questionnaire was sent out to a total of 29 companies considered to export consultancy services to the water sector. 12 of these companies state that they exported consultancy services to the water sector in 1998. Of the consultancy companies, four account for more than 80% of entire exports of consultancy services:

40% of consultancy service exports pertain to water supply and 40% to wastewater. The last 20% pertain mainly to other consultancy, i.e. consultancy to authorities etc.

Consultancy exports for water supply is divided between 24% on water

treatment and 17% on groundwater boring and pipeline networks. Consultancy regarding wastewater is divided between 29% on wastewater and sludge

treatment, and 11% on sewerage.

Geographically, Central and Eastern Europe is entirely dominant, accounting for 36% of total exports. Apart from 3% of exports going to the American continent and Australia, remaining exports are divided equally between Western Europe, Africa and Asia, with 20% for each of the continents.

Looking simultaneously at the type of consultancy services and their geographical distribution, the largest individual item is exports of consultancy regarding wastewater and sludge treatment to Central and Eastern Europe, amounting to 19% of total consultancy exports or two thirds of consultancy exports regarding wastewater and sludge treatment.

The second-largest item is the export of consultancy regarding water treatment to Africa, making up 9% of total exports. Water treatment also plays a major role for exports to Central and Eastern Europe (6%) as well as Asia (4%). Consultancy exports regarding groundwater boring and pipeline networks go primarily to Asia (7%) and Africa (4%).

Although the figures involved are small, there is a little consultancy export regarding the soil and groundwater environment to Central and Eastern Europe and regarding analysis, measurement and control to Africa.