The Federal Government’s policy on exports of military equipment in 2022 – the first year of the new government – is characterised by clear lines:The Federal Government published the Report on Military Equipment Exports for 2022 today. It provides information about the licences issued for the export of military equipment in the 2022 reference period. The report supplements the information published for the reference period in a press release by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action at the beginning of 2023.

The Federal Government’s policy on exports of military equipment in 2022 – the first year of the new government – is characterised by clear lines:

  • Germany stands firmly side to side with Ukraine as it defends itself against the illegal Russian war of aggression – especially by supplying Ukraine with military equipment. For this reason, in the reference year Ukraine headed the rankings and accounted for more than a quarter (26.9%) of all export licences for military equipment.
  • Germany is a reliable Alliance partner which contributes to the defence capability of close partner countries such as in particular the EU, NATO and NATO-equivalent countries[1], the Republic of Korea and Singapore, and to Ukraine’s self-defence. This is reflected in the high proportion of licences (around 92%) issued for these countries in 2022.
  • Other third countries[2] are basically subject to restrictive treatment in accordance with the Federal Government’s Political Principles. The share of licences approved for these countries (7.8%) is correspondingly small.

Licence figures for 2022

In 2022, individual licences (i.e. licences for single transactions) worth €8.362 billion were issued for the export of military equipment. In 2021 the sum totalled €9.352 billion.

At 92.2% (€7.7 billion), the bulk of this total amount was accounted for by licences for exports to EU, NATO and NATO-equivalent countries, the Republic of Korea and Singapore, and by support for Ukraine in its self-defence against the illegal Russian war of aggression. More than a quarter of all licences (worth approx. €2.245 billion) were issued for exports to Ukraine. This means that the greatest amount of licences in 2022 was issued for Ukraine. The Federal Government has published further information about the support provided to Ukraine here.

State Secretary Sven Giegold said: “In the 2022 Report on Military Equipment Exports, the Federal Government takes stock of the first year of its term of office, and the findings show the priorities of a values-based policy on the export of military equipment in the face of these changed times. The ongoing support for Ukraine’s self-defence was the top priority in 2022, and this has not changed. The Federal Government is also sending out clear signals regarding supplies to Alliance partners, which can now take place more swiftly as a result of procedural simplifications, whilst the other third countries are treated restrictively in line with the Political Principles.”

Of the total licences value in 2022, a share of 61.3% (2021: 36.4%) accrued to licences for exports to EU/NATO and NATO-equivalent countries. Export licences worth €3.24 billion (2021: €5.95 billion) were issued for third countries; of these, the bulk of these licences were for Ukraine (€2.245 billion), whilst the Republic of Korea accounted for €166.5 million and Singapore for €175.1 million, so that the value of the licences for other third countries totalled roughly €650 million.

The total value of the licences for small arms and parts for small arms in 2022 amounted to €87.1 million (2021: €43.9 million). A total of €86.04 million of these exports (99%) went to EU/NATO and NATO-equivalent countries. The other licences were for exports to the Republic of Korea, Singapore and Ukraine.

Licences for light weapons and parts for light weapons worth about €288 million (2021: €15.6 million) were issued in 2022. A total of €31.1 million of these exports (around 11%) went to EU/NATO and NATO-equivalent countries. Almost all the remaining licences worth approx. €257 million were for Ukraine.

For the 2022 Report on Military Equipment Exports (in German), please click here (PDF, 2 MB).

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[1] Australia, Japan, New Zealand and Switzerland

[2] Third countries are all countries which do not belong to the EU, NATO or the group of NATO-equivalent countries.