Finance
Swiss arms exports jump almost 43% in 2025
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on March 10, 2026
2 min readLast updated: March 10, 2026
Quick Summary
Swiss war materiel exports surged to CHF 948.2 million in 2025—a 43 % rise from 2024—driven by strong demand from Germany, the U.S., Hungary, Italy and Luxembourg amid recent easing of export rules.
Swiss Arms Exports Rise by 43% in 2025, Fueled by Global Demand
Surge in Swiss War Materiel Exports and Key Market Destinations
ZURICH, March 10 (Reuters) - Swiss companies exported 948.2 million Swiss francs'($1.22 billion) worth of war materiel in 2025, an increase of almost 43% from the previous year, official figures showed on Tuesday.
Top Export Markets for Swiss Arms
Government data showed the top five markets were Germany where those exports were worth 386.4 million francs, the U.S. at 94.2 million francs, Hungary at 63.4 million francs, Italy at 62.2 million francs, and Luxembourg at 47.4 million francs.
Global Reach of Swiss Arms Exports
All told, the Swiss arms exports went to 64 countries, the government said in a statement.
Major Transactions and Exported Goods
Key Products and Recipients
Major transactions included exports of ammunition and ammunition components as well as armoured vehicles and their components to Germany, ammunition and ammunition components to Hungary, components for artillery to Italy, and components for fighter jets to the United States, the data showed.
Policy Changes Impacting Exports
The Swiss parliament in December relaxed restrictions on weapons exports in a bid to support the domestic arms industry without compromising the country's traditional neutrality.
Exchange Rate Information
($1 = 0.7756 Swiss francs)
(Writing by Dave Graham, Editing by Miranda Murray)
Key Takeaways
- •Exports jumped from CHF 665 million in 2024 to CHF 948.2 million in 2025, marking the sharpest annual rebound in recent years. (swissobserver.ch)
- •Germany remained the largest recipient (CHF 386.4 million), followed by the U.S., Hungary, Italy and Luxembourg, reflecting diverse buyer profiles. (swissobserver.ch)
- •Parliament’s decision to ease export restrictions—including allowing re‑exports to certain NATO/EU countries—likely enabled the post‑2024 export rebound. (swissobserver.ch)
References
Frequently Asked Questions about Swiss arms exports jump almost 43% in 2025
1How much did Swiss arms exports increase in 2025?
Swiss arms exports increased by almost 43% in 2025 compared to the previous year.
2What was the total value of Swiss arms exports in 2025?
Swiss companies exported 948.2 million Swiss francs' worth of war materiel in 2025.
3Which countries were the top markets for Swiss arms exports?
The top markets were Germany, the US, Hungary, Italy, and Luxembourg.
4What products did Switzerland mainly export?
Switzerland exported ammunition, armoured vehicles, artillery components, and fighter jet components.
5What policy change influenced Swiss arms exports in 2025?
The Swiss parliament relaxed restrictions on weapon exports in December to support the arms industry.
