The overall value of exported helicopters accelerated via an average 10.5% for all exporting countries from 5 years earlier in 2020 when helicopters sold on international markets were valued at $4.85 billion.
Year over year, the global tally for exported helicopter sales fell by -9.5% compared to $5.93 starting from 2023.
The 5 biggest exporters of helicopters (regardless of helicopter size) are Germany, France, United States of America, Canada and the United Kingdom. Combined, that quintet of major exporters sold over two-thirds (67.5%) of all helicopters exported onto international markets in 2024.
The value of exported smaller helicopters equaled $1.49 billion in 2024 amounting to 27.8% of the overall total up from 26.8% in 2023. The comparable metrics for exported larger helicopters were $3.87 billion or 72.2% of total helicopters sold worldwide, down from 73.2% for the prior year.
From a continental perspective, suppliers based in Europe earned the most revenue from exported helicopters during 2024 with deliverables valued at $2.89 billion or 53.9% of the global sum. In second place were exporters located in North America at 27.2% while another 9.7% of international helicopter sales originated from Asia.
Smaller percentages came from Latin America (4.1%) excluding Mexico but including the Caribbean, Africa (3.3%), then Oceania led by Australia (1.8%).
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 2024.
- Germany: US$960.1 million (17.9% of total exported helicopters)
- France: $912.9 million (17%)
- United States: $732.7 million (13.7%)
- Canada: $728.1 million (13.6%)
- United Kingdom: $284.8 million (5.3%)
- Poland: $263.4 million (4.9%)
- Türkiye: $203.4 million (3.8%)
- Chile: $145.2 million (2.7%)
- mainland China: $105.8 million (2%)
- Russia: $93.5 million (1.7%)
- Singapore: $76.6 million (1.4%)
- Switzerland: $64.6 million (1.20%)
- New Zealand: $51.7 million (0.96%)
- Italy: $50 million (0.9%)
- Netherlands: $46.9 million (0.9%)
By value, the listed 15 countries shipped 88% of globally exported helicopters in 2024.
Among the above countries, the fastest-growing helicopters exporters since 2020 were: Türkiye (up 3,248%), New Zealand (up 2,459%), Italy (up 358.4%) and Switzerland (up 112.6%).
Major suppliers that posted declines in their exported helicopters sales were: Netherlands (down -50.1% from 2020), United Kingdom (down -40.5%) and the United States of America (down -39%).
Top 15 Exporters of Smaller Helicopters
Below are the 15 countries that exported the highest dollar value worth of smaller-sized helicopters during 2024. That is, helicopters weighing 2,000 kilograms (4,409.25 pounds) or less.
- Canada: US$394.8 million (26.5% of exported small helicopters)
- France: $386.2 million (25.9%)
- Germany: $155.7 million (10.4%)
- United Kingdom: $67.1 million (4.5%)
- mainland China: $53 million (3.6%)
- Italy: $50 million (3.4%)
- New Zealand: $40.3 million (2.7%)
- Chile: $36.8 million (2.5%)
- Switzerland: $35.5 million (2.4%)
- Austria: $29.9 million (2%)
- United States: $25.5 million (1.7%)
- Sweden: $21.7 million (1.5%)
- Singapore: $20.4 million (1.4%)
- Netherlands: $18.7 million (1.3%)
- Norway: $18.4 million (1.2%)
By value, the listed 15 countries shipped 90.7% of globally exported small helicopters in 2024.
Among the above countries, the fastest-growing exporters of small helicopters since 2020 were: New Zealand (up 1,891%), mainland China (up 670.1%), United Kingdom (up 436%) and Italy (up 358.4%).
Major suppliers that posted declines in their exported small helicopters sales were Norway (down -27.9% from 2020) and Chile (down -8.5%).
Top 15 Exporters of Larger Helicopters
Below are the 15 countries that exported the highest dollar value worth of larger-sized helicopters during 2024. For the purposes of this analysis, larger helicopters are those weighing over 2,000 kilograms (4,409.25 pounds).
- Germany: US$804.4 million (20.8% of exported large helicopters)
- United States: $707.2 million (18.3%)
- France: $526.7 million (13.6%)
- Canada: $333.3 million (8.6%)
- Poland: $257.9 million (6.7%)
- United Kingdom: $217.7 million (5.6%)
- Türkiye: $198.5 million (5.1%)
- Chile: $108.4 million (2.8%)
- Russia: $93.3 million (2.4%)
- Angola: $61.9 million (1.6%)
- Singapore: $56.2 million (1.5%)
- mainland China: $52.8 million (1.4%)
- Rwanda: $47.6 million (1.2%)
- Czech Republic: $40.7 million (1.1%)
- Guyana: $38.1 million (1%)
By value, the listed 15 countries shipped 91.6% of globally exported large helicopters in 2024.
Among the above countries, the fastest-growing exporters of large helicopters since 2020 were: Türkiye (up 3,461%), Poland (up 75%), Chile (up 74.7%) and France (up 70.3%).
Major suppliers that posted declines in their exported large helicopters sales were: United Kingdom (down -53.3% from 2020), United States of America (down -41.1%) and mainland China (down -22.7%).
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 24, 2025
Forbes Global 2000 rankings, The World’s Biggest Public Companies. Accessed on October 24, 2025
International Trade Centre, Trade Map. Accessed on October 24, 2025
Investopedia, Net Exports Definition. Accessed on October 24, 2025
Wikipedia, List of rotorcraft manufacturers by country. Accessed on October 24, 2025