UK TOPS WORLD ARMS EXPORT TABLE
By Julian Nettlefold
18 June, 2008. UKTI conducted a Press Conference during Eurosatory announcing the 2007 Arms Export league table. The UK was the top global defence exporter in 2007, winning a UK record £10 billion ($19bn) of new business and a 33% market share.
Commenting on the figures, Lord Digby Jones, Minister for Trade and Investment said, “As demonstrated by this outstanding export performance, the UK has a first class defence industry, with some of the world’s most technologically sophisticated companies. Along with colleagues in UKTI DSO, I look forward to working with the defence sector in future to ensure its continued success.”
The Middle East and North America remained the UK’s most profitable regional markets, with Saudi Arabia and the USA respectively the top customers. Orders for Typhoon in Saudi Arabia and Offshore Patrol vessels for Oman and Trinidad and Tobago played an important part in this year’s success. The 2007 world market (reported in dollars) followed a trend of gradual
increases over the last few years that could be the result of several factors: operations in Iraq and Afghanistan; greater spending on Homeland Security; the increase in unit cost of equipment and services; the improvement in Russia’s export performance; and a return to higher spending in the Middle East.
The top global exporters over the last five years, based on cumulative export values, are the United States with $63bn, the UK ($53bn), Russia ($33bn), France ($17bn), and Germany and Israel with ($9bn).
Comparatively, on imports over the last five years, Saudi Arabia has imported the most ($31bn); India second ($18bn); the US ($17bn), and three countries – Australia ($11bn), Canada ($10bn) and Pakistan – ($6bn) moving up the import rankings.
Over the last five-year period, there was significant growth in import procurement in the Middle East regional market, closing the gap with Asia and Europe.
The UK has performed best in the Middle East and North America – especially the United States – where it wins more business there than any other exporter.
Head of UKTI DSO
UK Trade & Investment (UKTI), the Government’s international business development organisation, announced on 12th June 2008 the appointment of Richard Paniguian CBE as Head of its new Defence & Security Organisation (UKTI DSO).Currently BP’s Group Vice President for Russia, Caspian, Middle East and Africa, Paniguian is a senior BP executive of long standing who has worked extensively across the globe in highly sensitive roles. He brings a very detailed international industry background with an impressive Government interface. As Head of UKTI DSO he will lead a dedicated UKTI group of
military and civilian staff in delivering targeted Government support and expertise to the UK’s defence and security sectors. He will take up his post in August.
Commenting on his appointment Paniguian said: “The UK is home to world class defence companies, while our expertise in the security sector is increasingly being recognised and applauded on the global stage. UKTI DSO marks an exciting new venture for me and I look forward to working in this dynamic field.”
Andrew Cahn, UKTI CEO, said: “I am delighted to appoint Richard to this important role. He brings international business experience of the highest quality; proven success across range of strategic, policy and commercial issues; and a strong track record in delivering business transformation. He will be an asset to the new UKTI DSO and help drive forward our support for these important and growing sectors of our economy.”
Lord Digby Jones, Minister for Trade and Investment, said: “UK defence equipment manufacturing is vital to this country’s economic and geopolitical interests. In 2006 the sector won new export orders worth £5.5 billion. Government has a crucial role to play in that success and under Richard’s leadership