The overall value of exported helicopters increased via an average 7.6% for all exporting countries from 5 years earlier in 2021 when helicopters sold on international markets were valued at $5.9 billion.
Year over year, the global tally for exported helicopter sales accelerated by 15.7% compared to $5.45 starting from 2024.
The 5 biggest exporters of helicopters (including all helicopter sizes) are Germany, France, Canada, United States of America and Poland. Combined, that quintet of major exporters sold over two-thirds (70.5%) of all helicopters exported onto international markets in 2025.
The value of exported smaller helicopters equaled $1.53 billion in 2025 amounting to 24.3% of the overall total down from 27.8% in 2024. The comparable metrics for exported larger helicopters were $4.77 billion or 75.7% of total helicopters sold worldwide, up from 72.2% for the prior year.
From a continental perspective, suppliers based in Europe earned the most revenue from exported helicopters during 2025 with deliverables valued at $49 billion or 64% of the global sum. In second place were exporters located in North America at 22.8% while another 6.3% of international helicopter sales originated from Asia.
Smaller percentages came from Oceania (3.1%) led by Australia, Latin America (3%) excluding Mexico but including the Caribbean, then Africa (0.8%).
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 2025.
- Germany: US$1.5 billion (23.6% of total exported helicopters)
- France: $1.2 billion (18.5%)
- Canada: $739.4 million (11.7%)
- United States: $700.6 million (11.1%)
- Poland: $348.6 million (5.5%)
- United Kingdom: $267.4 million (4.2%)
- Russia: $261.8 million (4.2%)
- Chile: $153.9 million (2.4%)
- Australia: $143 million (2.3%)
- Switzerland: $131.1 million (2.1%)
- mainland China: $122.4 million (1.9%)
- Belgium: $76.2 million (1.21%)
- Czech Republic: $72.9 million (1.16%)
- South Korea: $71.2 million (1.1%)
- Saudi Arabia: $51.8 million (0.8%)
By value, the listed 15 countries shipped 91.9% of globally exported helicopters in 2025.
Among the above countries, the fastest-growing helicopters exporters since 2021 were: South Korea (up 3,921%), Switzerland (up 329.4%) and Belgium (up 145.4%).
A pair from the listed countries posted declines in their exported helicopters sales over the 5-year period, namely the United States of America (down -63.1%) and the United Kingdom (down -23.9%).
Top 15 Exporters of Smaller Helicopters
Below are the 15 countries that exported the highest dollar value worth of smaller-sized helicopters during 2025. That is, helicopters weighing 2,000 kilograms (4,409.25 pounds) or less.
- France: US$468.4 million (30.6% of exported small helicopters)
- Canada: $390.4 million (25.5%)
- Germany: $120 million (7.8%)
- mainland China: $81 million (5.3%)
- Switzerland: $60.6 million (4%)
- New Zealand: $42.9 million (2.8%)
- United Kingdom: $37.9 million (2.5%)
- Australia: $35.6 million (2.3%)
- Saudi Arabia: $35.5 million (2.3%)
- Chile: $31.9 million (2.1%)
- Czech Republic: $29.3 million (1.9%)
- Austria: $26.5 million (1.7%)
- Norway: $26.2 million (1.7%)
- Italy: $22 million (1.4%)
- South Africa: $21.1 million (1.4%)
By value, the listed 15 countries shipped 93.4% of globally exported small helicopters in 2025.
Among the above countries, the fastest-growing exporters of small helicopters since 2021 were: New Zealand (up 19,597%), mainland China (up 496.4%), Australia (up 311.6%) and Switzerland (up 203.2%).
Major suppliers that posted declines over the 5-year period in their exported small helicopters sales were Chile (down -45.2% from 2021) and Canada (down -0.9%).
Top 15 Exporters of Larger Helicopters
Below are the 15 countries that exported the highest dollar value worth of larger-sized helicopters during 2025. For the purposes of this analysis, larger helicopters are those weighing over 2,000 kilograms (4,409.25 pounds).
- Germany: US$1.4 billion (28.7% of exported large helicopters)
- France: $696.1 million (14.6%)
- United States: $691.7 million (14.5%)
- Canada: $349 million (7.3%)
- Poland: $335.5 million (7%)
- Russia: $261.8 million (5.5%)
- United Kingdom: $229.5 million (4.8%)
- Chile: $122 million (2.6%)
- Australia: $107.4 million (2.3%)
- South Korea: $70.5 million (1.5%)
- Switzerland: $70.5 million (1.5%)
- Belgium: $69.6 million (1.5%)
- Czech Republic: $43.6 million (0.9%)
- mainland China: $41.5 million (0.9%)
- India: $30.9 million (0.6%)
By value, the listed 15 countries shipped 94% of globally exported large helicopters in 2025.
Among the above countries, the fastest-growing exporters of large helicopters since 2021 were: South Korea (up 3,889%), Switzerland (up 568.7%), India (up 516.3%) and Belgium (up 205.2%).
Major suppliers that posted declines over the 5-year period in their exported large helicopters sales were: United States of America (down -63.4% from 2021), mainland China (down -52.9%), United Kingdom (down -27.7%) then the Czech Republic (down -7.6%).
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 23, 2026
Forbes Global 2000 rankings, The World’s Biggest Public Companies. Accessed on September 23, 2026
International Trade Centre, Trade Map. Accessed on September 23, 2026
Investopedia, Net Exports Definition. Accessed on September 23, 2026
Wikipedia, List of rotorcraft manufacturers by country. Accessed on September 23, 2026