In 2022, according to the Norwegian Statistical Office, Norway exported weapons for a record amount of NOK 4,6 billion. This is an increase of NOK 1,3 billion over last year and also NOK 1,2 billion more than in the record year of 2017.
"The main reason for the increase is the high export of arms to Qatar and Ukraine," says section chief Therese Vestre.
The increase from 2021 is concentrated in the "Weapons and weapon parts" product group and amounted to 923 million NOK. In total, almost NOK 2022 billion was exported in 2,2 for this product group. Moreover, from 2021 there was an increase of NOK 365 million in the product group "Bombs, grenades, torpedoes, mines, rockets, etc. war materials and parts". In 2022, this group of products worth NOK 1,8 billion was exported.
The figures in the article are based on export customs declarations. Applies to arms and ammunition except warships and combat aircraft.
Increased exports to non-NATO countries
Due to arms deals and occasional large arms shipments, exports to individual countries vary greatly from year to year. In 2022, Norwegian weapons worth almost NOK 3 billion were exported to non-NATO countries. This represents an increase of NOK 1,7 billion compared to 2021. The large increase is due to high exports to Qatar and Ukraine.
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More than NOK 1,3 billion were exported to Qatar, making it the country that received the most arms from Norway in 2022. Most of these exports fall into the "Weapons and Weapon Parts" product group. Qatar was also the only country in the Middle East to receive Norwegian arms in 2022.
Norwegian weapons worth NOK 795 million were exported to Ukraine, the second largest export after Qatar. The largest part of arms exports to Ukraine in 2022 are war materials and parts. Donations to Ukraine are included in the value of exports. More information on government donations can be found here (regjeringen.no) .
Declining Norwegian arms exports to NATO
In 2022, arms and ammunition worth over NOK 1,6 billion were delivered to NATO countries, a decrease of almost NOK 487 million compared to the previous year. The percentage of Norway's total arms exports to NATO in previous years was well over 50%. In 2022, it accounted for only 35,7 percent. total arms exports.
The United States is still the largest buyer of Norwegian weapons in NATO. However, they lag behind Qatar and Ukraine as the largest importer in 2022. US imports totaled nearly NOK 731 million in 2022, down NOK 330 million from the previous year.
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Source: Statistics Norway
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