2022
Annual report on export of defence materiel 2021 published
In 2021, the Ministry of Defence granted a total of 261 licences for permanent exports and transfers of defence materiel to 54 countries. A total of 361 licences were granted, 93 of which concerned, for example, introductory, warranty and service exports. The total value of the permanent export and transfer licences granted was EUR 311 million.
From the regional perspective, most licences were granted for exports to European countries and when examined by country, the greatest number of licences was granted to the United Kingdom and Sweden (22 in both cases) as well as to France and Poland (15 in both cases). The licences are divided into several product categories, including components, munitions and explosives. In terms of euros, most licences were granted for exports to Latvia (EUR 193 million), Norway (EUR 17 million) and the UK (EUR 12 million). Latvia’s share consists of three licences for armoured vehicles, covering 62% of the total value of the licences granted. The largest number of licences for fire control and related counter-measure components were granted for exports to Norway and for CBRN protective equipment components to the UK.
The value of actual exports in 2021 was EUR 73.4 million. It fell on the year before and is the lowest in ten years. The three largest export countries were Sweden, Norway and France. Exports mainly comprised components of different product categories and munitions, among other things. Regionally speaking, most of the products were exported to the European Union.
When considering a licence application, a case-by-case overall consideration is applied, based on national legislation and international commitments binding on Finland. The Council of the European Union's common position on defining common rules for the control of exports of military technology and equipment (2008/944/CFSP) and the Arms Trade Treaty play a key role. Licence applications are processed in a cross-sectoral export working group where the Ministry for Foreign Affairs is responsible for the foreign and security policy assessment.
The entire annual report on the export of defence materiel in 2021 is available on the website of the Ministry of Defence. In the near future, it will also be taken to the Government's joint publication archive Valto.
Inquiries: Senior Adviser Riikka Pitkänen, Ministry of Defence, tel. +358 295 140054, and Special Adviser Frans Peltonen, tel. +358 295 140 021.