Export licences for military equipment in the first quarter of 2023 Almost 90% of total licence values accrued to close partner countries – €497 million to Ukraine

According to preliminary figures for the first quarter of 2023, individual licences worth €2.4 billion were issued for the export of military equipment (consisting of €1.25 billion in war weapons and €1.19 billion in other military equipment). The equivalent figure for 2022 was €2.88 billion.

The lion’s share of the total value (€2.18 billion of €2.4 billion) is attributable to licences for close partner countries and support for Ukraine in defending itself against the illegal war of aggression launched by Russia. Licences for EU/NATO and NATO-equivalent countries (Japan, Switzerland, Australia, New Zealand) as well as Ukraine and the Republic of Korea account for approx. 90% of the total value of all individual licences issued, as was also the case in 2022.

Licences worth approximately €497 million were issued for Ukraine in Q1 2023. The Federal Government has published further information about the support provided to Ukraine here.

A total of €1.6 billion accrued to licences for deliveries to EU/NATO and NATO-equivalent countries^[1] (consisting of €870 billion in war weapons and €730 million in other military equipment). Of this, approximately €765 million was spent on equipping the Hungarian armed forces. Apart from Ukraine and the Republic of Korea, only €262 million was for other third countries. ^[2] 

State Secretary Sven Giegold:
“In 2023, the Federal Government will continue to pursue its targeted arms export policy in the face of the new era we are living in.

We give clear support to our EU and NATO partners, close partner countries and to Ukraine. We follow a restrictive policy towards third countries. In doing so, we are meeting our security interests and are also ensuring that military equipment is not exported to countries that systematically violate human rights. The Federal Government is also working to establish stronger cooperation in Europe and is continuing to advance work on the first Arms Export Control Act.”

Figures

In the period from 1 January to 31 March 2023, these ten countries ranked highest in terms of the approved individual export volumes:

According to preliminary figures, the total value of the licences for small arms and parts for small arms in the first quarter of 2023 amounted to €16.8 million (2022: €34.9 million). A total of €15.8 million of these exports (95%) went to EU/NATO and NATO-equivalent countries. This means that almost all the licensed exports of small arms and small arms parts were destined for a privileged group of EU and NATO partners. Export licences for third countries were approved for a UN mission in Iraq and the Republic of Korea.

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<sup>[1] NATO-equivalent countries: Japan, Switzerland, Australia, New Zealand.
[2] Third countries incl. Ukraine and South Korea: around €837 million, consisting of €377 million in war weapons and €460 million in other military equipment. This figure includes export licences for developing countries (developing countries and developing territories pursuant to the list of the OECD’s Development Assistance Committee, excluding upper middle income countries (column four of said list)) of €570 million (consisting of €361 million in war weapons and €209 million in other military equipment, most of which was destined for Ukraine, which is also covered by this category).
[3] Mainly ammunition for the Hungarian armed forces
[4] Mainly border surveillance aircraft
[5] Especially equipment for protection against chemical weapons

[4] v.a. Grenzüberwachungsflugzeuge
[5] v.a. Ausrüstung zum Schutz gegen Chemiewaffen</sup>