The outlook among Danish companies operating in China has improved significantly, according to the latest Danish Business Outlook on China (DBOC) Index for the first half of 2026.
The index rose to 54.97, up from 51.40 in the previous survey, marking its strongest reading since 2023. A score above 50 indicates that more companies report improving business conditions than deteriorating ones.
The DBOC Index measures changes in the short-term outlook of Danish companies across four key business areas: sales, manufacturing and production, procurement and supply chains, and research and development.
One of the most notable findings in the latest survey is that 51 percent of respondents now consider Chinese companies to be more innovative than Danish companies, while a further 38.8 percent believe they are equally innovative. Only a small minority continue to view Danish companies as clearly more innovative.
The index is based on responses from Danish companies with commercial activities in China and is jointly produced by the Danish Embassy in Beijing, Danish Chamber of Commerce in China, Danish-Chinese Business Forum and Sino-Danish Center for Education and Research.
Launched in 2021, the DBOC Index is published twice a year and tracks changes in business sentiment rather than measuring business conditions in absolute terms. By following developments over time, it provides an indication of how Danish companies perceive China as a market and as a location for manufacturing, sourcing and innovation.
The improved H1 2026 results suggest that Danish companies are becoming increasingly optimistic about their prospects in China despite a challenging global economic and geopolitical environment.
Source: um.dk/kina/en/news/
