In 2021, Germany exported arms in record numbers and levels, particularly to Egypt. Most of the sales were maritime and air defense weapons, according to officials. 

As released by the Ministry of Economy in Germany, preliminary numbers expose that arms worth 9.35 billion euros were exported in 2021, which constitutes a 61% increase from 2020. This number topped the 8 billion euros worth of exports in 2019. 

The exports were authorized by former Chancellor of Germany Angela Merkel, according to the Ministry. 

Weapons worth 4.3 billion euros were exported to Egypt, which has been involved in human rights abuses in Libya and other countries. About 1 billion euros worth of arms were exported to the United States.

European arms sales in 2020

According to a SIPRI report, 26 European arms companies in the top 100 list accounted for 21% of total arms sales or $109 billion in 2020. 

The seven British companies recorded $37.5 billion in arms sales in 2020, an increase of 6.2% compared to 2019. 

Arms sales by BAE Systems - the only European company in the top ten - increased 6.6% to $24.0 billion in 2020.

"Aggregated arms sales by the six French companies in the Top 100 fell by 7.7 percent," said Dr. Lucy Perrod-Sudreau, Director of the Military Expenditure and Arms Production Program at the Stockholm Institute. 

This significant decrease was due to the sharp yearly decrease in the number of deliveries of Rafale combat aircraft by Dassault. However, Safran arms sales increased, driven by the increased sales of sighting and navigation systems.

Arms sales to four German companies listed in the top 100 reached $8.9 billion in 2020, an increase of 1.3% compared to 2019. Combined, these companies accounted for 1.7% of the total arms sales of the top 100 companies. 

Rheinmetall, the largest German arms manufacturer, recorded an increase in arms sales of 5.2%. In contrast, shipbuilder ThyssenKrupp reported a 3.7% drop.