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Weapons & Ammunition Manufacturing in Germany - Market Research Report (2014-2029)

Robert Maier Robert Maier Frankfurt, Germany Last Updated: December 2024 WZ C25.40DE

Revenue

€5.4bn

2024

€5.4bn

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

€XXX.Xm

Employees

13,761

Businesses

29

Wages

€X.Xbn

Weapons & Ammunition Manufacturing in Germany industry analysis

The industry players produce small arms and heavy weapons such as rocket launchers and artillery pieces. The industry players also manufacture the corresponding ammunition and explosive devices such as grenades, mines, torpedoes and guided missiles. Due to the dangerous nature of the sector's products, the customer market for weapons manufacturers in Germany consists primarily of state actors such as the military and police authorities in Germany and abroad. Due to a trend of rising demand for their products, domestic weapons manufacturers have been able to record very dynamic sales growth over the past five years. Since 2019, industry turnover has grown by an average of 10.8% per year.Over the past five years, developments in the sector have been characterised above all by the changing security situation in Europe. Many countries in the NATO defence alliance gradually increased their defence spending in response to the Russian annexation of Crimea in the years after 2014. In the years prior to 2014, this had often declined or stagnated in relation to the respective economic output. In the years that followed, numerous countries made up for investments in national security, meaning that the order situation for industry players has gradually improved since 2019, but a substantial change in the market environment did not occur until the Russian invasion of Ukraine in the spring of 2022. As a result, the leading suppliers in the industry in particular benefited increasingly from new major orders, which are intended to ensure Germany's military support for Ukraine and the provision of new large-scale equipment for the German Armed Forces. Due to the greatly improved utilisation of production capacities, the profitability of arms manufacturers has increased over the past five years despite higher material costs. The industry's turnover is expected to amount to 5.4 billion euros in the current year, which corresponds to an increase of 22.1% compared to the previous year. < />IBISWorld expects industry turnover to increase by an average of 7.7% annually over the next five years, reaching 7.9 billion euros in 2029. The forecast sales growth is likely to be driven by the continued increase in defence spending in Europe and the processing of orders received since the outbreak of the Russian-Ukrainian war in 2022.

Trends and Insights

  • The German Basic Law stipulates high legal hurdles for the export of military equipment. Every export must first be authorised by the Federal Government. Arms exports to so-called third countries, i.e. countries outside the European Union and non-NATO countries, are subject to particularly strict scrutiny.
  • The industry's top-selling product segment is explosive devices. These include bombs, grenades, mines, torpedoes, guided missiles and other missile weapons. Production, acquisition and distribution are all subject to the War Weapons Control Act.
  • Most weapons and ammunition manufacturers are based in southern Germany. Bavaria is a leading location for the civil and military aerospace industry in Germany.
  • Competition in the industry is moderate. The industry players are heavily dependent on large public contracts, for which any weapons manufacturer can bid. This means that competition is mainly based on the capabilities of the weapons and their compatibility with existing weapon systems.

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Industry Statistics and Trends

Market size and recent performance (2014-2029)

Industry revenue has grown at a CAGR of 10.8 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated €5.4bn in 2024.

Trends and Insights

In Germany, defence investments require parliamentary approval

  • The companies operating in the sector produce a wide range of weapons and ammunition for military, government and civilian markets.
  • Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Weapons & Ammunition Manufacturing in Germany
Revenue (2014-2029)
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry outlook (2024-2029)

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

Trends and Insights

Rising defence budgets are likely to offer further growth potential in the coming years

  • According to data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), the total global volume of defence budgets climbed to a new record of 2.4 trillion US dollars in 2023. More and more governments are being forced to comprehensively modernise their armed forces due to changes in the global security situation and new technological developments.

Biggest companies in the Weapons & Ammunition Manufacturing in Germany

Company
Market Share (%)
2024
Revenue (€m)
2024
Thyssenkrupp AG
80.7
Diehl Stiftung & Co. KG
542.0
H&K AG
267.0

To view the market share and analysis for all 4 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.

Products & Services Segmentation

Weapons & Ammunition Manufacturing in Germany
Products & Services
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Explosive device, Ammunition and Heavy weapons. Explosive device is the largest segment of the Weapons & Ammunition Manufacturing in Germany.

Trends and Insights

Modern explosive devices are high-tech products and are used in complex weapon systems

  • The largest product segment in the industry comprises a wide range of explosive devices, the production, acquisition and distribution of which are all subject to the War Weapons Control Act. In addition to bombs, grenades and mines, this also includes torpedoes, guided missiles and other missile weapons.
  • More insights available in the full report

Table of Contents

About this industry

Industry definition

The companies in this sector manufacture weapons and ammunition. The industry does not include the manufacture of tanks and other combat vehicles, edged weapons and pyrotechnic products such as detonators and explosives.

What's included in this industry?

Explosive deviceAmmunitionHeavy weaponsSmall arms

Companies

Thyssenkrupp AGDiehl Stiftung & Co. KGH&K AG

Purchase this report to view all 4 major companies in this industry.

Related Terms

CALIBERWEAPON OF WARBAJONETTARTILLERY

Industry Code

WZ 2008

WZ 25.40 - Weapons & Ammunition Manufacturing in Germany

Performance

Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.

Analyst insights

The German Basic Law stipulates high legal hurdles for the export of military equipment. Every export must first be authorised by the Federal Government. Arms exports to so-c...

In this chapter (4)

  • Current Performance
  • Outlook
  • Volatility
  • Life Cycle

Key metrics

  • Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
  • Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
  • Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
  • Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business

Charts

  • Revenue, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Employees, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Businesses, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Profit, including historical (2014-2024)
  • Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
  • Industry Life Cycle

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
  • Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
  • Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
  • How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.

Products and Markets

Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.

Analyst insight

The industry's top-selling product segment is explosive devices. These include bombs, grenades, mines, torpedoes, guided missiles and other missile weapons. Production, acqui...

In this chapter

  • Products & Services
  • Major Markets
  • International Trade

Key metrics

  • Largest market segment and value in 2024
  • Product innovation level
  • Total imports, level and trend
  • Total exports, level and trend
  • Trade Balance

Charts

  • Products & services segmentation in 2024
  • Major market segmentation in 2024
  • International trade, including imports by country and exports by country

Detailed analysis

  • Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
  • Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
  • Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
  • Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services
  • Recent trends in import and export volumes, country of origin or destination, and expected future trends

Geographic Breakdown

Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.

Analyst insights

Most weapons and ammunition manufacturers are based in southern Germany. Bavaria is a leading location for the civil and military aerospace industry in Germany.

In this chapter (1)

  • Business Locations

Charts

  • Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each region
  • Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2024

Tables

  • Number and share of establishments in each region in 2024
  • Number and share of revenue each region accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of wages each region accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of employees in each region in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Geographic spread of the industry across Europe, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
  • Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage

Competitive Forces

Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.

Analyst insights

Competition in the industry is moderate. The industry players are heavily dependent on large public contracts, for which any weapons manufacturer can bid. This means that com...

In this chapter (4)

  • Concentration
  • Barriers to Entry
  • Substitutes
  • Buyer & Supplier Analysis

Key metrics

  • Industry concentration level
  • Industry competition level and trend
  • Barriers to entry level and trend
  • Substitutes level and trend
  • Buyer power level and trend
  • Supplier power level and trend

Charts

  • Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2019-2024
  • Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart

Detailed analysis

  • Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
  • Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
  • Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
  • Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
  • Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
  • Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
  • Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
  • Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
  • Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.

Companies

Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.

Analyst insights

Rheinmetall AG has the highest market share in the weapons and ammunition manufacturing industry. The company is Germany's largest defence contractor.

In this chapter

  • Market Share Concentration
  • Companies
  • Company Spotlights

Charts

  • Industry market share by company in 2020 through 2024
  • Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2024
  • Overview of Thyssenkrupp AG's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of Diehl Stiftung & Co. KG's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of H&K AG's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of revenue, market share and profit margin trend for one additional company

Detailed analysis

  • Description and key data for Thyssenkrupp AG, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Diehl Stiftung & Co. KG, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for H&K AG, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description, key data and performance trends for one additional company

External Environment

Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.   

Analyst insights

If government spending increases, the defence budget also tends to rise, which benefits the industry. The manufacture of weapons and ammunition is heavily dependent on orders...

In this chapter

  • External Drivers
  • Regulation & Policy
  • Assistance

Key metrics

  • Regulation & policy level and trend
  • Assistance level and trend

Charts

  • Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 
  • Assistance historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 

Detailed analysis

  • Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
  • Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
  • Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.

Financial Benchmarks

View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time. 

Analyst insights

The industry's profit margin has risen recently. The slight increase in the number of large orders has enabled industry players to increase the economies of scale realised an...

In this chapter

  • Cost Structure
  • Financial Ratios
  • Key Ratios

Key metrics

  • Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
  • Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
  • Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
  • Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio

Charts

  • Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Investment vs. share of economy

Data tables

  • Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Employee (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Establishment (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Average Wage (2014-2029)
  • Wages/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Establishments per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • IVA/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Imports/Demand (2014-2029)
  • Exports/Revenue (2014-2029)

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability 

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)

Top Questions Answered

Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.

What is the market size of the Weapons & Ammunition Manufacturing industry in Germany in 2024?

The market size of the Weapons & Ammunition Manufacturing industry in Germany is €5.4bn in 2024.

How many businesses are there in the Weapons & Ammunition Manufacturing in Germany industry in 2024?

There are 29 businesses in the Weapons & Ammunition Manufacturing industry in Germany, which has declined at a CAGR of 0.7 % between 2019 and 2024.

Has the Weapons & Ammunition Manufacturing industry in Germany grown or declined over the past 5 years?

The market size of the Weapons & Ammunition Manufacturing industry in Germany has been growing at a CAGR of 10.8 % between 2019 and 2024.

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

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

What are the biggest companies in the Weapons & Ammunition Manufacturing market in Germany?

The biggest companies operating in the Weapons & Ammunition Manufacturing market in Germany are Thyssenkrupp AG, Diehl Stiftung & Co. KG and H&K AG

What does the Weapons & Ammunition Manufacturing in Germany include?

Explosive device and Ammunition are part of the Weapons & Ammunition Manufacturing industry.

Which companies have the highest market share in the Weapons & Ammunition Manufacturing in Germany?

The company holding the most market share in Germany is Thyssenkrupp AG.

How competitive is the Weapons & Ammunition Manufacturing industry in Germany?

The level of competition is moderate and steady in the Weapons & Ammunition Manufacturing industry in Germany.

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Competitors

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Methodology

How are IBISWorld reports created?

IBISWorld has been a leading provider of trusted industry research for over 50 years to the most successful companies worldwide. With offices in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and China, we are proud to have local teams of analysts that conduct research, data analysis and forecasting to produce data-driven industry reports.

Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.

IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.

What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?

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

Key data sources in Germany include:

  • German Federal Statistics Office (Destatis)
  • European Statistics Office (Eurostat)
  • United Nations Comtrade

Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.

These sources include:

  • Industry and trade associations
  • Industry federations or regulators
  • Major industry players annual or quarterly filings

Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.

How does IBISWorld forecast its data?

IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.

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. We are proud to be the keystone source of industry information for thousands of companies across the world.

Learn more about our methodology and data sourcing on the Help Center.