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Weapon & Ammunition Manufacturing in Europe - Market Size, Industry Analysis, Trends and Forecasts (2024-2029)

ISIC 252 August 2024 Spotlight Report

Revenue

€23.6bn

2019-2024 3.6 %
2024-2029 X.X %

Employees

154k

2019-2024 3.9 %
2024-2029 X.X %

Businesses

1,804

2019-2024 2.3 %
2024-2029 X.X %

Wages

€X.Xbn

2019-2024 X.X %
2024-2029 X.X %

Weapon & Ammunition Manufacturing in Europe industry analysis

The majority of demand for weapons and ammunition manufactured by European companies comes from the European defence sector and allied militaries like the US. Domestic and international defence budgets are the primary driver of revenue, typically increasing during geopolitical tension and conflict. Yet, the industry faces intense global competition from US manufacturers, which produce the lion's share of ammunition and weapons globally. Imports increased strongly over the past few years, totalling €4.6 billion in 2024, as the Russia-Ukraine conflict encouraged a flood of US weapon and ammunition imports to assist Ukraine with the war effort.

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  • Market estimates from 2014-2029
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Industry Statistics and Trends

Weapon & Ammunition Manufacturing in Europe key trends

US imports threaten revenue prospects.

 

The US dominates industry imports because of its competitive advantage in weapons manufacturing. The CEOs of Airbus SE and the Sweden-based Saab AB called on European governments to rely less on US weapon imports.

Foreign threats will boost spending on weapons and ammunition.

 

The Russia-Ukraine conflict has led to more government spending pledges, sustaining orders for defence contractors. For example, Poland recently passed a law to elevate its defence spending to 3% of GDP.

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Weapon & Ammunition Manufacturing in Europe

Industry Revenue

Total value and annual change from 2011-2029. Includes 5-year outlook.

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Weapon & Ammunition Manufacturing in Europe market size (2019-2024)

Industry revenue has declined at a CAGR of 3.6 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated €23.6bn in 2024.

Trends and Insights

The Russia-Ukraine conflicts boosts is boosting the order book for manufacturers while elevating import competition

  • Imports shot up by an absurd 126.5% in 2022, as the Russia-Ukraine conflict encouraged a flood of US weapon and ammunition imports to assist Ukraine with the war effort. Over 2022, imports represented 9.4% of domestic demand, up from 4.4% in 2021.

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Weapon & Ammunition Manufacturing in Europe outlook (2024-2029)

Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.

Foreign threats will boost defence spending in the future

  • The Russia-Ukraine conflict has led to more government spending pledges, sustaining orders for defence contractors, with the UK government planning to spend £242 billion (€289.9 billion) on defence equipment procurement over the next 10 years (starting February 2023), including £17.4 billion on land equipment.

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Revenue

€23.6bn

2019-2024 3.6 %
2024-2029 X.X %

Employees

154k

2019-2024 3.9 %
2024-2029 X.X %

Wages

€X.Xbn

2019-2024 X.X %
2024-2029 X.X %

European Leaders & Laggards

Europe Job Growth CAGR: 3.9 % *
  • Job Growth

Top 5 Countries

  1. Greece +64.2%
  2. Switzerland +14.3%
  3. Poland +10.4%
  4. Lithuania +8.3%
  5. Serbia +6.8%

Bottom 5 Countries

  1. Denmark -40.4%
  2. Estonia -18.8%
  3. Slovenia -6.0%
  4. Croatia -3.9%
  5. Latvia -3.7%

* CAGR values are for the years 2019-2024.

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Biggest companies in the Weapon & Ammunition Manufacturing in Europe

Company
Market Share (%)
2024
Revenue (€m)
2024
Profit (€m)
2024
Profit Margin (%)
2024
Thales SA
19,011.0
2,258.0
11.9
Rostec State Corporation
24,179.9
446.2
1.8

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Weapon & Ammunition Manufacturing in Europe

Products & Services Segmentation

Industry revenue broken down by key product and services lines.

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Top Questions Answered in this Report

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What is the market size of the Weapon & Ammunition Manufacturing industry in Europe in 2024?

The market size of the Weapon & Ammunition Manufacturing industry in Europe is €23.6bn in 2024.

How many businesses are there in the Weapon & Ammunition Manufacturing in Europe industry in 2024?

There are 1,804 businesses in the Weapon & Ammunition Manufacturing industry in Europe, which has grown at a CAGR of 2.3 % between 2019 and 2024.

Has the Weapon & Ammunition Manufacturing industry in Europe grown or declined over the past 5 years?

The market size of the Weapon & Ammunition Manufacturing industry in Europe has been declining at a CAGR of 3.6 % between 2019 and 2024.

What is the forecast growth of the Weapon & Ammunition Manufacturing industry in Europe over the next 5 years?

Over the next five years, the Weapon & Ammunition Manufacturing industry in Europe is expected to grow.

What does the Weapon & Ammunition Manufacturing in Europe include?

Heavy-arms weapons & ammunition and Small-arm weapons & ammunition are part of the Weapon & Ammunition Manufacturing industry.

Which countries have the most businesses in the Weapon & Ammunition Manufacturing industry in Europe?

The European country with the most businesses in the Weapon & Ammunition Manufacturing industry is Turkey.

How competitive is the Weapon & Ammunition Manufacturing industry in Europe?

The level of competition is high and increasing in the Weapon & Ammunition Manufacturing industry in Europe.

Related Industries

This industry is covered in 37 countries

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Table of Contents

About this industry

Industry definition

Companies in the Weapon and Ammunition Manufacturing industry manufacture heavy weapons, small arms, air and gas guns, pistols and war ammunition, including hunting firearms and explosive devices like bombs, grenades, guided missiles, mortars and torpedoes.

Related Terms

AMMUNITION ARTILLERY Torpedo

What's included in this industry?

Heavy-arms weapons & ammunitionSmall-arm weapons & ammunition

Companies

Thales SARostec State Corporation

Industry Code

ISIC 2006

252 - Manufacture of weapons and ammunition in Europe

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Performance

Key Takeaways

The Russia-Ukraine conflicts boosts is boosting the order book for manufacturers while elevating import competition

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Revenue Highlights

Trends
  • Revenue
  • 2024 Revenue Growth
  • Revenue Volatility

Employment Highlights

Trends
  • Employees
  • Employees per Business
  • Revenue per Employee

Business Highlights

Trends
  • Businesses
  • Employees per Business
  • Revenue per Business

Profit Highlights

Trends
  • Total Profit
  • Profit Margin
  • Profit per Business

Current Performance

Charts
  • Revenue in the Weapon & Ammunition Manufacturing in Europe industry (2011 -2029)
  • Employees in the Weapon & Ammunition Manufacturing in Europe industry (2011 -2029)
  • Business in the Weapon & Ammunition Manufacturing in Europe industry (2011 -2029)
  • Profit in the Weapon & Ammunition Manufacturing in Europe industry (2011 -2029)
Analysis

What's driving current industry performance in the Weapon & Ammunition Manufacturing in Europe industry?


Outlook

Analysis

What's driving the Weapon & Ammunition Manufacturing in Europe industry outlook?


Volatility

Analysis

What influences volatility in the Weapon & Ammunition Manufacturing in Europe industry?

Charts
  • Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth Matrix

Life Cycle

Analysis

What determines the industry life cycle stage in the Weapon & Ammunition Manufacturing in Europe industry?

Charts
  • Industry Life Cycle Matrix

Products and Markets

Highlights

Trends
  • Largest Market
  • Product Innovation

Key Takeaways

Geopolitical conflict boosts demand for heavy-arm weapons & ammunition. The ongoing Russia-Ukraine war has increased demand for heavy weapons and ammunition manufacturing. The UK has donated anti-tank missiles, artillery guns and air defence systems to Ukraine since its invasion.

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Products and Services

Charts
  • Products and Services Segmentation
Analysis

How are the Weapon & Ammunition Manufacturing in Europe industry's products and services performing?

Analysis

What are innovations in the Weapon & Ammunition Manufacturing in Europe industry's products and services?


Major Markets

Charts
  • Major Market Segmentation
Analysis

What influences demand in the Weapon & Ammunition Manufacturing in Europe industry?


International Trade

Highlights

  • Largest Importer
  • Smallest Importer
  • Total Imports into Europe
  • Largest Exporter
  • Smallest Exporter
  • Total Exports into Europe
Heat maps
  • Industry Concentration of Imports by Country
  • Industry Concentration of Exports by Country
Data Tables

Value and annual change (%) included

  • Number of Imports and Exports by European Country (2024)

Geographic Breakdown

Business Locations

Heat maps
  • Share of Total Industry Revenue by Region (2024)
  • Share of Total Industry Enterprises by Region (2024)
  • Share of Total Industry Employment by Region (2024)
  • Share of Total Industry Wages by Region (2024)

Industry Geographic Breakdown

Data Tables

Values and annual change provided for 37 European countries:

  • Revenue (2024)
  • IVA (2024)
  • Enterprises (2024)
  • Employment (2024)
  • Exports (2024)
  • Imports (2024)

Competitive Forces

Highlights

Trends
  • Concentration
  • Competition
  • Barriers to Entry
  • Substitutes
  • Buyer Power
  • Supplier Power

Key Takeaways

Manufacturers primarily compete on price and quality. They also compete against each other on product range and compatibility with existing weapon systems. To remain competitive, weapons manufacturers continuously adapt their products to the latest technology and strategic needs.

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Supply Chain

Charts

Buyer and supply industries

Companies

Market Share

Charts
  • Industry Market Share by Company (2019-2024)

Companies

Data Tables

Top 2 companies by market share:

  • Market share (2024)
  • Revenue (2024)
  • Profit (2024)
  • Profit Margin (2024)

Data Tables
  • Countries of operation for Thales SA
  • Countries of operation for Rostec State Corporation

External Environment

Highlights

Trends
  • Regulation & Policy
  • Assistance

Key Takeaways

Manufacturers must abide by export laws and International Arms Control Treaties. Many European governments have signed up to various international arms control treaties like the Arms Trade Treaty, which influences export decisions and reporting obligations.

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External Drivers

Analysis

What demographic and macroeconomic factors impact the Weapon & Ammunition Manufacturing in Europe industry?

Financial Benchmarks

Highlights

Trends
  • Profit Margin
  • Average Wage
  • Largest Cost

Key Takeaways

Long-term contracts and relationships help stabilise profitability. Many European-based manufacturers are well-established institutions with a long history of fulfilling contracts for their national defence industry and other international governments.

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Cost Structure

Charts
  • Share of Economy vs. Investment Matrix
  • Industry Cost Structure Benchmarks:
    • Marketing
    • Depreciation
    • Profit
    • Purchases
    • Wages
    • Rent
    • Utilities
    • Other
Analysis

What trends impact cost in the Weapon & Ammunition Manufacturing in Europe industry?


Key Ratios

Data tables
  • IVA/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Imports/Demand (2014-2029)
  • Exports/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Employee (2014-2029)
  • Wages/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Establishment (2014-2029)
  • Average Wage (2014-2029)

Country Benchmarks

European Leaders & Laggards

Data Tables

Top and boottom five countries listed for each:

  • Revenue Growth (2024)
  • Business Growth (2024)
  • Job Growth (2024)

European Country Performance

Data Tables

Rankings available for 37 countries. Statistics ranked include:

  • IVA/Revenue (2024)
  • Imports/Demand (2024)
  • Exports/Revenue (2024)
  • Revenue per Employee (2024)
  • Wages/Revenue (2024)
  • Employees per Establishment (2024)
  • Average Wage (2024)

Structural Comparison

Data Tables

Trends in 37 countries benchmarked against trends in Europe

  • Concentration
  • Competition
  • Barriers to Entry
  • Buyer Power
  • Supplier Power
  • Volatility
  • Capital Intensity
  • Innovation
  • Life Cycle

Key Statistics

Industry Data

Data Tables

Including values and annual change:

  • Revenue (2014-2029)
  • IVA (2014-2029)
  • Establishments (2014-2029)
  • Enterprises (2014-2029)
  • Employment (2014-2029)
  • Exports (2014-2029)
  • Imports (2014-2029)
  • Wages (2014-2029)

Methodology

Where does IBISWorld source its data?

IBISWorld is a world-leading provider of business information, with reports on 5,000+ industries in Australia, New Zealand, North America, Europe and China. Our expert industry analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build an accurate picture of each industry.

Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and IBISWorld's proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights. 

IBISWorld prides itself on being a trusted, independent source of data, with over 50 years of experience building and maintaining rich datasets and forecasting tools.

To learn more about specific data sources used by IBISWorld's analysts globally, including how industry data forecasts are produced, visit our Help Center.