Helsinki, June 19, 2023 – The Ministry of Defence of Finland has published its annual report on the export of defence materiel for the year 2022. The report highlights an increase in both the number of licences granted and the value of actual exports compared to the previous year.
In 2022, the Ministry of Defence issued a total of 342 licences, with 269 licenses granted for permanent exports and transfers of defence materiel to 47 countries. The remaining 63 licenses were related to introductory, warranty, and service exports. The total value of the permanent export and transfer licenses reached EUR 119 million. European countries received the majority of licenses, while Sweden, the United States, and France were the top three countries to which the highest number of licenses were granted.
Precision rifles and their accessories accounted for approximately 29 percent of the total value of licenses granted, making it the most significant category. Transfer licenses for ammunition for official use in Sweden were also prominent. The report underlines that a case-by-case evaluation, considering national legislation and international commitments, is carried out when reviewing license applications. The Council of the European Union’s common position and the Arms Trade Treaty play key roles in this process.
The value of actual exports in 2022 amounted to EUR 125 million, marking a substantial increase of 70 percent compared to the previous year. Latvia, Norway, and Estonia were the top three export destinations, with the majority of exports taking place within the European Union. Ground vehicles constituted a significant portion of the exports to Latvia.
It is important to note that the annual report focuses on commercial exports and does not cover defence materiel assistance provided by Finland to Ukraine as part of international assistance. However, 14 licenses were granted for commercial exports to Ukraine.
The complete annual report on the export of defence materiel in 2022 can be accessed on the Ministry of Defence’s website in Finnish, with plans to make it available in the Government’s joint publication archive, Valto, in the near future. This report provides valuable insights into Finland’s defence export trends and reflects the meticulous evaluation process carried out by the Ministry of Defence in granting licenses for the export of defence materiel.
https://valtioneuvosto.fi/en/-/annual-report-on-export-of-defence-materiel-2022-published