Denmark's Dominance in the Fur Business

The Globalization of the fur industry has given Denmark’s agricultural-based economy the boost it was looking for. Fur is used as a luxurious item for clothing, decoration, comfort, etc. Being home to about one-fifth of the world’s supply of minks, it is no surprise that Denmark is the heart of the global fur industry. With all of the growth in the industry, Kopenhagen Fur has been the leader all along.  The company has used Chinese demand to fuel growth and has focused its innovation on the Chinese consumers, as demand in Europe weakens. With the greatest passion for animal-rights, the Danes have stayed out of the way of Animal Rights activists, and the buyers feel a lot more confident and humane about their purchases.

Danish Farmers use machines that use the perfect amount of food and water into the animal’s cage based on the animal’s size and stage in the breeding cycle, as well as recycle the bodies of the Mink after they are slaughtered. In Denmark’s second largest city, Aarhus, the bus system is powered by biofuel created in part by the bodies of slaughtered mink. Boasting a 20% premium over the animals bred elsewhere, Danish farmers use advantages in agriculture and high quality of animals to create a brand that designers crave.

As for the future of the fur industry, some believe there is a potential bubble that could burst in the industry. Auction prices have fallen by forty percent since last September, but Denmark’s breeders are not worried. Danes believe that it will be more of a “market correction and shake-out” rather than a bubble burst. The victims will be newcomers from Eastern Europe who have entered the business at a rapid rate. Having the world’s best pelts, the best auction house, and a large supplier base, Kopenhagen Fur should have no problem keeping up their current success.