Germany establishes a record for its arms exports, with Ukraine receiving the most; Rheinmetall will build the world’s most modern gunpowder plant near Ukraine.

In 2024, Germany approved arms exports totaling €12.83B, the country’s largest amount ever. Ukraine emerged as the top recipient, accounting for €8.15B, or 64%, of all exports. Last year, Ukraine was supplied with 306 armored combat vehicles, 316 missiles and missile systems, 78 tanks, and 11 large-caliber artillery systems. Meanwhile, German defense company Rheinmetall and Romania have signed an agreement to build a gunpowder production plant, which could become the largest in the world. Rheinmetall’s plans to develop a gunpowder plant in Romania were announced in March 2024, in cooperation with the European Commission. The plant in Victoria will produce gunpowder for both Romania’s military needs and those of the wider region. Construction is scheduled to begin in 2026 and take three years. The project involves a €535M investment and will create 700 new jobs.