The overall value of exported helicopters declined by an average -36.2% for all exporting countries since 2014 when helicopters sold on international markets were valued at $8.8 billion. Year over year, exports of helicopters improved by a modest 0.6% from 2017 to 2018.
From a continental perspective, suppliers in Europe earned the most revenue from exported helicopters during 2018 with deliverables valued at $3.7 billion or about a third (65.5%) of the global total. In second place were North American exporters at 25.7% while 3.9% of international helicopter sales originated from Asia. Smaller percentages came from Oceania (2%) notably Australia and New Zealand, Africa (1.9%) and Latin America (0.9%) excluding Mexico but including the Caribbean.
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. For larger helicopters, the HTS code is 880212. Both codes were used to calculate the figures presented below.
The value of exported smaller helicopters equaled $1.133 billion in 2018 representing 20.3% of the overall total. The comparable metric for exported larger helicopters was $4.454 billion or 79.7% of total helicopters sold via the global marketplace.
Helicopters Exports by Country
Total
Below are the 15 countries that exported the highest dollar value worth of helicopters (including both large and small models) during 2018.
- Italy: US$1.2 billion (21.2% of total helicopters exports)
- United States: $837 million (15%)
- Germany: $769 million (13.8%)
- France: $679.4 million (12.2%)
- Canada: $599.1 million (10.7%)
- United Kingdom: $382.5 million (6.8%)
- Poland: $247 million (4.4%)
- Australia: $92.4 million (1.7%)
- Czech Republic: $78.5 million (1.4%)
- Singapore: $61.1 million (1.1%)
- Norway: $48.7 million (0.87%)
- South Africa: $47.8 million (0.86%)
- Austria: $33.5 million (0.6%)
- India: $32.4 million (0.58%)
- Switzerland: $31 million (0.55%)
By value, the listed 15 countries shipped 91.7% of all exported helicopters in 2018.
Among the above countries, the fastest-growing helicopters exporters since 2014 were: Germany (up 107.3%), Poland (up 70.6%), India (up 68.2%) and Australia (up 67.8%).
Those countries that posted declines in their exported helicopters sales were led by: Singapore (down -58.8%), France (down -56%), United States (down -54.5%), Canada (down -49.1%) and Austria (down -41.3%).
Small
Below are the 15 countries that exported the highest dollar value worth of smaller-sized helicopters during 2018 (under tariff code 880211).
- Canada: US$324.9 million (28.7% of total small helicopters exports)
- France: $221.5 million (19.5%)
- United States of America: $181.7 million (16.0%)
- Germany: $103.6 million (9.1%)
- Norway: $46.4 million (4.1%)
- United Kingdom: $27.7 million (2.4%)
- Czech Republic: $23.3 million (2.1%)
- Switzerland: $21.5 million (1.9%)
- Austria: $21.5 million (1.9%)
- Singapore: $21.2 million (1.9%)
- Italy: $17.0 million (1.5%)
- South Africa: $16.9 million (1.5%)
- Sweden: $16.0 million (1.4%)
- Poland: $10.2 million (0.9%)
- Australia: $9.8 million (0.9%)
By value, the listed 15 countries shipped 93.8% of smaller-sized exported helicopters in 2017.
Among the above countries, the fastest-growing small helicopters exporters since 2014 were: Norway (up 882.2%), Poland (up 239.5%), United Kingdom (up 110.7%) and Switzerland (up 91.3%).
Those countries that posted declines in their exported small helicopters sales were led by: Czech Republic (down -69.8%), France (down -55.4%), Sweden (down -37.4%), Germany (down -33%) and Canada (down -5.2%).
Large
Below are the 15 countries that exported the highest dollar value worth of larger-sized helicopters during 2018 (under tariff code 880212).
- Italy: US$1.2 billion (26.2% of total large helicopters exports)
- Germany: $665.4 million (14.9%)
- United States: $655.4 million (14.7%)
- France: $457.9 million (10.3%)
- United Kingdom: $354.8 million (8%)
- Canada: $274.2 million (6.2%)
- Poland: $236.8 million (5.3%)
- Australia: $82.6 million (1.9%)
- Czech Republic: $55.2 million (1.2%)
- Thailand: $47 million (1.1%)
- Singapore: $39.9 million (0.9%)
- Slovenia: $32.1 million (0.7%)
- South Africa: $30.9 million (0.7%)
- Gabon: $27.5 million (0.6%)
- India: $26.6 million (0.6%)
By value, the listed 15 countries shipped 93.2% of larger-sized exported helicopters exports in 2018.
Among the above countries, the fastest-growing large helicopters exporters since 2014 were: Gabon (up 404.3%), Germany (up 207.3%), Czech Republic (up 175.7%) and India (up 118.7%).
Those countries that posted declines in their exported large helicopters sales were led by: Singapore (down -69.6%), Canada (down -67.1%), United States (down -60.5%), France (down -56.3%) and Thailand (down -42%).
Companies
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 and Aircraft Parts Exports by Country
Research Sources:
Forbes Global 2000 rankings, The World’s Biggest Public Companies. Accessed on May 31, 2019
Investopedia, Net Exports Definition. Accessed on May 31, 2019
The World Factbook, Field Listing: Exports – Commodities, Central Intelligence Agency. Accessed on May 31, 2019
Trade Map, International Trade Centre. Accessed on May 31, 2019
Wikipedia, List of rotorcraft manufacturers by country. Accessed on June 14, 2018