By Bahattin Gonultas
BERLIN (AA) - Germany's sales of arms and military equipment rose to €11 billion ($12.15 billion) in the January-September period of this year, according to a report released Wednesday.
Sales in the period nearly matched the €12.2 billion worth of overall arms exports of the previous year, said the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action.
In the first three quarters of the year, the German government approved the export of around €7.2 billion worth of combat weapons and about €3.8 billion of other military equipment.
Ukraine, which is at war with Russia, was the largest recipient of military equipment sales from January to September, according to the ministry's report.
Berlin approved the sale of €7.1 billion worth of arms and equipment to Kyiv, while in the same period of 2023, the value was recorded as approximately €3.3 billion.
The government's export permits to Ukraine include Leopard II tanks, Patriot air defense systems, Gepard anti-aircraft tanks, PzH Howitzers, stinger missiles, grenades, helmets and vehicles.
Ukraine was followed by Singapore, with €1.2 billion, Algeria with €558 million, the US with €246 million and India with €212 million.
Of the €11 billion worth of arms sales approved by the government in the first nine months of the year, 87%, or €9.5 billion, went to the European Union and NATO countries.
*Writing by Gokhan Ergocun from Adana, Türkiye