Germany’s arms exports reached a record high of €12.83 billion in 2024, according to a report revealed Wednesday. This figure surpasses the €12.13 billion exported in 2023, marking a significant increase in international arms sales.
The largest category of exported military goods was tracked and armored vehicles, totaling €4.4 billion, followed by bombs, torpedoes and missiles at €2.9 billion and warships at €1.5 billion.
Ukraine was the primary recipient of German arms exports, receiving goods valued at €8.15 billion. Exports to countries within the European Union, NATO and other NATO-equivalent nations reached €1.58 billion, a decrease from the €6 billion recorded in the previous year. Exports to EU member states specifically decreased to €736 million, lower than the €817 million recorded a decade ago. These partner nations now account for only 12% of total exports, down from 50% in 2023.
Exports to third countries, which includes Ukraine, totaled €11.26 billion, nearly doubling the previous year’s amount and representing approximately 88% of all German arms exports.
The government approved a total of 5,052 individual export applications. Deliveries to Ukraine included 306 armored fighting vehicles, 316 rockets and rocket systems, 78 battle tanks and 11 large-caliber artillery systems. Significant orders were also fulfilled for Singapore, which received 33 Leopard 2 tanks and a Class 218 submarine.
The government rejected 62 export applications, an increase of 17 from the previous year. Pakistan, Thailand and Malaysia were among the countries most frequently subject to these rejections.
