Aircraft and Spacecraft Exports by Country 2026

The United States and Europe Dominate Aerospace Exports

The global aircraft and spacecraft export market is dominated by a relatively small group of advanced industrial economies. The United States leads the world by a substantial margin with roughly $65.61 billion in aerospace exports during 2023, accounting for about 28.38% of the global total. France ranks second at $44.65 billion, followed by Germany at $31.99 billion.

Western Europe remains an aerospace powerhouse overall. Alongside France and Germany, countries such as the United Kingdom, Italy, and Spain all rank among the world’s leading exporters of aircraft, spacecraft, and related components. Canada also remains a major player, exporting roughly $13.73 billion worth of aerospace products in 2023.

A Small Group of Countries Controls Most Aircraft Trade

Aircraft and spacecraft exports are heavily concentrated among a handful of countries with advanced engineering, manufacturing, and defense industries. The top five exporters—the United States, France, Germany, Canada, and the United Kingdom—together account for well over 70% of the global aerospace export market.

After those leading exporters, the market becomes far more fragmented. China, Ireland, Italy, Brazil, and Spain form the next tier of major suppliers, each exporting between roughly $3 billion and $5 billion annually. Many other countries participate in the aerospace supply chain, but usually at much smaller scales tied to specialized manufacturing, aircraft maintenance, or component production.

China and Emerging Exporters Continue to Expand

China has become one of the world’s largest emerging aerospace exporters, shipping roughly $4.96 billion worth of aircraft and spacecraft products in 2023. Although still far behind the United States and Western Europe, China’s growing manufacturing base and long-term investment in domestic aviation continue to expand its role in the global aerospace market.

Several mid-sized exporters are also strengthening their positions. Countries such as Turkey, Morocco, Mexico, Malaysia, Thailand, and the United Arab Emirates have increasingly integrated themselves into global aerospace supply chains through parts manufacturing, maintenance operations, and specialized industrial production. In many cases, these countries benefit from lower production costs, strategic geographic positioning, or close partnerships with major aerospace firms.

Aerospace Manufacturing Remains Highly Strategic

Aircraft and spacecraft manufacturing is one of the world’s most technologically demanding industries. Building commercial aircraft, satellites, military systems, and aerospace components requires massive capital investment, advanced engineering expertise, highly specialized labor, and tightly coordinated supply chains. As a result, relatively few countries have developed large-scale aerospace export industries.

The sector is also closely tied to national security and industrial policy. Governments often support aerospace companies through defense contracts, research funding, export financing, and long-term infrastructure investment. Because aerospace production influences both economic competitiveness and military capability, many countries view the industry as strategically important far beyond its direct export value.