According to the Finnish Arms Control Report published by SaferGlobe, in 2023, the value of Finland’s arms exports reached a record €333 million. This is more than at any previous time in the statistics compiled by SaferGlobe since 2002. Civilian weapons exports rose to €141 million, and military products were exported worth nearly €192 million.
According to the Finnish Arms Control Report published by SaferGlobe, in 2023, the value of Finland’s arms exports reached a record €333 million. This is more than at any previous time in the statistics compiled by SaferGlobe since 2002. Civilian weapons exports rose to €141 million, and military products were exported worth nearly €192 million.
The peace and security think tank SaferGlobe has released data on Finland’s 2023 arms exports and granted export licenses in its Finnish Arms Control Report. Based on the information, Finland’s arms exports increased by nearly €80 million from 2022.
As in the previous year, the focus of military product exports was on Europe. In 2023, approximately 85 percent of military product exports were directed to Europe, with almost all of this going to the European Union. The largest export countries by value were Sweden, with exports worth €51 million; Latvia (€34 million); and Lithuania (€19 million). These three countries accounted for over half of the total military product exports.
Of the value of exported military products, the largest share—32%—consisted of land vehicles and their components. The next largest exports were ammunition (17%) and explosives and charges (15%).
Sales of civilian weapons also reached record levels at €141 million, which is slightly less than half of the total exports. These sales are concentrated outside the EU. The largest exports by value were to the United States (€52 million), Canada (€15 million), and Australia (€9 million). Together, exports to these three countries accounted for over half of the total civilian weapons exports.
According to Customs statistics, last year exports worth €5 million were made to “unspecified countries and areas in intra-EU trade.” The exports were in a product category that includes cartridges and their parts. Exports where the destination country is unknown are noteworthy because, excluding this export, civilian weapons exports have, according to SaferGlobe’s data, always been directed to specified countries.
In 2023, export licenses for military products were granted for a total value of €667 million. This is nearly double compared to previous peak years in the statistics starting from 2002. The largest recipient countries by value for export licenses were Slovakia, with granted licenses worth €201 million. The next most licenses were granted to Japan (€154 million) and Ukraine (€88 million). The shares for Slovakia and Japan consisted mainly of licenses granted for vehicles and vehicle manufacturing.
Export licenses to Ukraine were granted in many product categories; five of the export licenses granted to Ukraine were classified. The longest licenses are valid until 2045; their destination country is Japan, and the company is Patria Land Oy. Such long export licenses are exceptional.
Export licenses to the United Arab Emirates were granted totaling €14 million. Export licenses to Israel were granted worth €400,000 in a product category that includes armor or protective equipment, as well as protective structures and components. The value of realized exports to Israel was €45,000 in the same product category.
Military products are developed primarily for military use and include, in addition to weapons, vehicles, and explosives, items like protective materials, production technology, and software. Civilian weapons are exported mainly for hunting and shooting sports, but due to legislation, items such as pistols, shotguns, and cartridges are also exported as civilian weapons to authorities like the military.
SaferGlobe is an independent Finnish think tank established in 2010 that produces information and develops tools to promote sustainable peace and security. SaferGlobe’s Finnish Arms Control Report allows tracking of Finland’s arms export developments since 2002. The data for 2023 have been obtained from reports published by the Ministry of Defence and from the Customs Foreign Trade Data Distribution System. The export licensing authority for civilian weapons, the National Police Board, has not in recent years been able to collect comprehensive statistics on export licenses granted for civilian weapons exports.
The aim of the Finnish Arms Control Report is to increase transparency of information related to arms trade and armament and to develop and maintain primarily Finnish—but also international—research and expertise in arms control.
Where are weapons exported from Finland going? In which direction is the global arms trade evolving? SaferGlobe’s Finnish Arms Control Report provides insights into arms trade trends and the development of arms control in Finland and around the world.
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