The overall value of exported helicopters rose by an average 6.4% for all exporting countries since 2017 when helicopters sold on international markets were valued at $5.34 billion.
Year over year, the global tally for exported helicopters accelerated by 22.6% compared to $4.64 in 2020.
The 5 biggest exporters of helicopters (regardless of helicopter size) are the United States of America, Germany, Australia, United Kingdom, and Singapore. Combined, that quintet of major exporters sold almost two-thirds (65.5%) of all helicopters exported onto international markets in 2021.
The value of exported smaller helicopters equaled $1.13 billion in 2021 amounting to 19.8% of the overall total. The comparable metric for exported larger helicopters was $4.56 billion or 80.2% of total helicopters sold worldwide.
From a continental perspective, suppliers in North America earned the most revenue from exported helicopters during 2021 with deliverables valued at $2.54 billion or 44.6% of the global sum. In second place were European exporters at 42.6% while another 5.8% of international helicopter sales originated from Asia.
Smaller percentages came from Latin America (2.9%) excluding Mexico but including the Caribbean, Africa (2.8%), then Oceania led by Australia (1.3%).
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 2021.
- United States: US$1.9 billion (33.2% of total exported helicopters)
- Germany: $711 million (12.5%)
- Australia: $462.7 million (8.1%)
- United Kingdom: $332.1 million (5.8%)
- Singapore: $330.3 million (5.8%)
- France: $306.8 million (5.4%)
- Canada: $262.2 million (4.6%)
- Poland: $189.2 million (3.3%)
- Netherlands: $127.5 million (2.2%)
- Austria: $101.2 million (1.8%)
- China: $90.3 million (1.6%)
- Romania: $48.6 million (0.85%)
- Czech Republic: $47.3 million (0.83%)
- Belgium: $41.4 million (0.7%)
- Thailand: $38.2 million (0.7%)
By value, the listed 15 countries shipped 87.5% of globally exported helicopters in 2021.
Among the above countries, the fastest-growing exporters of helicopters of all sizes since 2017 were: Netherlands (up 2,279%), Austria (up 1,100%), Romania (up 690.2%) and Australia (up 619.5%).
Those countries that posted declines in their exported helicopters sales were led by: Canada (down -54%), France (down -42.8%), Thailand (down -41.7%), Czech Republic (down -17.6%), then the United Kingdom (down -13.1%).
Top 15 Exporters of Smaller Helicopters
Below are the 15 countries that exported the highest dollar value worth of smaller-sized helicopters during 2021. That is, helicopters weighing 2,000 kilograms (4,409.25 pounds) or less.
- Canada: US$394.1 million (34.9% of exported small helicopters)
- France: $327.6 million (29%)
- Germany: $80.8 million (7.2%)
- Chile: $58.3 million (5.2%)
- United Kingdom: $34 million (3%)
- Norway: $25 million (2.2%)
- Switzerland: $20 million (1.8%)
- South Africa: $19 million (1.7%)
- Austria: $17 million (1.5%)
- Czech Republic: $14.8 million (1.3%)
- Spain: $14 million (1.2%)
- China: $13.6 million (1.2%)
- United States: $12.4 million (1.1%)
- Singapore: $12.2 million (1.1%)
- Israel: $9.3 million (0.8%)
By value, the listed 15 countries shipped 93.2% of globally exported small helicopters in 2021.
Among the above countries, the fastest-growing exporters of small helicopters since 2017 were: Chile (up 114,190%), mainland China (up 2,670%), Israel (up 2,318%) and Norway (up 162.9%).
Five leading exporters posted declines in their exported small helicopters sales namely United States of America (down -88.6%), Czech Republic (down -62.9%), Germany (down -62.9%), Switzerland (down -33.4%) and Austria (down -0.1%).
Top 15 Exporters of Larger Helicopters
Below are the 15 countries that exported the highest dollar value worth of larger-sized helicopters during 2021. For the purposes of this analysis, larger helicopters are those weighing over 2,000 kilograms (4,409.25 pounds).
- United States: US$1.9 billion (41.4% of exported large helicopters)
- Germany: $711 million (15.6%)
- United Kingdom: $317.2 million (7%)
- France: $302.6 million (6.6%)
- Canada: $243 million (5.3%)
- Poland: $184 million (4%)
- Netherlands: $108 million (2.4%)
- Nigeria: $105.8 million (2.3%)
- Singapore: $95 million (2.1%)
- China: $87.9 million (1.9%)
- Chile: $82.1 million (1.8%)
- Australia: $62.7 million (1.4%)
- Czech Republic: $47.2 million (1%)
- Romania: $46.3 million (1%)
- Thailand: $37.3 million (0.8%)
By value, the listed 15 countries shipped 94.7% of globally exported large helicopters in 2021.
Among the above countries, the fastest-growing exporters of large helicopters since 2017 were: Chile (up 5963.2%), Romania (up 751%), mainland China (up 247.4%) and Poland (up 149.4%).
Four major suppliers posted declines in their exported large helicopters sales namely Thailand (down -42.5%), Canada (down -35.8%), United Kingdom (down -11.6%) and Singapore (down -2.6%).
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 September 30, 2022
Forbes Global 2000 rankings, The World’s Biggest Public Companies. Accessed on September 30, 2022
International Trade Centre, Trade Map. Accessed on September 30, 2022
Investopedia, Net Exports Definition. Accessed on September 30, 2022
Wikipedia, List of rotorcraft manufacturers by country. Accessed on September 30, 2022
