The overall value of exported helicopters shrank by an average -10.9% for all exporting countries since 2018 when helicopters sold on international markets were valued at $5.99 billion.
Year over year, the global tally for exported helicopter sales declined by -8.1% compared to $5.81 in 2021.
The 5 biggest exporters of helicopters (regardless of helicopter size) are the United States of America, Germany, Canada, France and the United Kingdom. Combined, that quintet of major exporters sold almost three-quarters (73%) of all helicopters exported onto international markets in 2022.
The value of exported smaller helicopters equaled $1.3 billion in 2022 amounting to 24.4% of the overall total, up from 19.8% for 2021. The comparable metrics for exported larger helicopters were $4.03 billion or 75.6% of total helicopters sold worldwide, down from 80.2% in the prior year.
From a continental perspective, suppliers in Europe earned the most revenue from exported helicopters during 2022 with deliverables valued at $2.32 billion or 43.4% of the global sum. In second place were North American exporters at 42.8% while another 7.9% of international helicopter sales originated from Asia.
Smaller percentages came from Latin America (3.4%) excluding Mexico but including the Caribbean, Africa (1.7%), then Oceania led by Australia (0.7%).
For research purposes, the 6-digit Harmonized Tariff System (HTS) code prefix for smaller helicopters is 880211 for those weighing 2,000 kilograms (4,409.25 pounds) or less. Concerning larger helicopters, the HTS code is 880212. Both codes were used to calculate the figures presented below.
Helicopters Exports by Country
Below are the 15 countries that exported the highest dollar value worth of helicopters (including both large and small models) during 2022.
- United States: US$1.5 billion (28.6% of total helicopter exports)
- Germany: $845.9 million (15.9%)
- Canada: $755.2 million (14.2%)
- France: $552 million (10.3%)
- United Kingdom: $215.4 million (4%)
- Chile: $167.3 million (3.1%)
- Poland: $161.6 million (3%)
- Türkiye: $149.4 million (2.8%)
- Russia: $136.2 million (2.6%)
- Singapore: $98.5 million (1.8%)
- Czech Republic: $58.6 million (1.1%)
- Thailand: $54.9 million (13%)
- Spain: $36.8 million (0.7%)
- Australia: $35.9 million (0.7%)
- Sweden: $31.5 million (0.6%)
By value, the listed 15 countries shipped 90.5% of globally exported helicopters in 2022.
Among the above countries, the fastest-growing exporters of helicopters since 2018 were: Chile (up 2,079%), Türkiye (up 730.4%), United States of America (up 82.6%) and Singapore (up 60.2%).
Major suppliers that posted declines in their exported helicopters sales were led by: Australia (down -61.8% from 2018), United Kingdom (down -43.7%), Poland (down -34.5%), France (down -30.4%) and Czech Republic (down -24.7%).
Top 15 Exporters of Smaller Helicopters
Below are the 15 countries that exported the highest dollar value worth of smaller-sized helicopters during 2022. That is, helicopters weighing 2,000 kilograms (4,409.25 pounds) or less.
- France: US$415.2 million (31.8% of small helicopter exports)
- Canada: $323 million (24.8%)
- Germany: $138.5 million (10.6%)
- United States: $78.1 million (6%)
- Chile: $72 million (5.5%)
- Spain: $31.2 million (2.4%)
- Austria: $29.7 million (2.3%)
- United Kingdom: $27 million (2.1%)
- Czech Republic: $19.6 million (1.5%)
- Italy: $18.9 million (1.4%)
- Sweden: $17.2 million (1.3%)
- China: $15 million (1.2%)
- Norway: $14.6 million (1.1%)
- Singapore: $12.4 million (1%)
- South Africa: $9.6 million (0.7%)
By value, the listed 15 countries shipped 93.7% of globally exported small helicopters in 2022.
Among the above countries, the fastest-growing exporters of small helicopters since 2018 were: Spain (up 5,207%), Chile (up 1,274%), mainland China (up 309%) and France (up 66.6%).
Leading suppliers that posted declines in their exported small helicopters sales were led by: Norway (down -69% from 2018), United States of America (down -57%), South Africa (down -45.1%), Singapore (down -41%) and the Czech Republic (down -15.1%).
Top 15 Exporters of Larger Helicopters
Below are the 15 countries that exported the highest dollar value worth of larger-sized helicopters during 2022. For the purposes of this analysis, larger helicopters are those weighing over 2,000 kilograms (4,409.25 pounds).
- United States: US$1.5 billion (36% of large helicopter exports)
- Germany: $707.4 million (17.5%)
- Canada: $432.2 million (10.7%)
- United Kingdom: $188.4 million (4.7%)
- Poland: $161 million (4%)
- Türkiye: $147.7 million (3.7%)
- France: $136.8 million (3.4%)
- Russian Federation: $134.3 million (3.3%)
- Chile: $95.3 million (2.4%)
- Singapore: $86.1 million (2.1%)
- Romania: $66.2 million (1.6%)
- Thailand: $54.9 million (1.4%)
- Czech Republic: $39 million (1%)
- Slovenia: $30.9 million (0.8%)
- Nigeria: $29.6 million (0.7%)
By value, the listed 15 countries shipped 93.3% of globally exported large helicopters in 2022.
Among the above countries, the fastest-growing exporters of large helicopters since 2018 were: Chile (up 3,806%), Türkiye (up 725.4%), Nigeria (up 660.7%) and the United States of America (up 121.3%).
The 5 major suppliers that posted declines in their exported large helicopters sales were: France (down -74.8% from 2021), United Kingdom (down -46.9%), Poland (down -31.8%), Czech Republic (down -28.8%) and Slovenia (down -4.4%).
Helicopters Manufacturing Companies
Below are established players engaged in the international trade of helicopters. The home country for each is shown within parenthesis.
- Airbus Helicopters (France)
- Bell Helicopter (United States)
- Denel SOC Ltd (South Africa)
- Helibras (Brazil)
- Heli-Sport Helicopters (Italy)
- RotorWay Helicopter Manufacturing Company (United States)
- Youngcopter (Germany)
See also Aerospace Exports by Country, Aircraft Parts Exports by Country and Top Industrial Robots Exporters
Research Sources:
Central Intelligence Agency, The World Factbook Field Listing: Exports – Commodities. Accessed on October 3, 2023
Forbes Global 2000 rankings, The World’s Biggest Public Companies. Accessed on October 3, 2023
International Trade Centre, Trade Map. Accessed on October 3, 2023
Investopedia, Net Exports Definition. Accessed on October 3, 2023
Wikipedia, List of rotorcraft manufacturers by country. Accessed on October 3, 2023