This list reveals the top 10 aircraft and spacecraft importers based on their percentage of global import purchases (shown within parenthesis). In 2015, world aircraft and spacecraft imports totaled US$256.4 billion.
African Importers
Africa imported $6.2 billion worth of aircraft and spacecraft led by the following countries:
1. South Africa: $903.3 million
2. Algeria: $755.7 million
3. Libya: $712.9 million
4. Kenya: $707.3 million
5. Niger: $619.5 million
6. Morocco: $582.3 million
7. Nigeria: $443.6 million
8. Tunisia: $432.4 million
9. Ethiopia: $137 million
10. Angola: $122.3 million
Asian Importers
Asia imported $72.8 billion worth of aircraft and spacecraft led by the following countries:
1. China: $28 billion
2. Singapore: $7.6 billion
3. Japan: $6.2 billion
4. Indonesia: $4 billion
5. Turkey: $3.8 billion
6. South Korea: $3.7 billion
7. Thailand: $3.3 billion
8. India: $2.8 billion
9. Malaysia: $2.6 billion
10. Vietnam: $2.4 billion
European Importers
Europe imported $100.3 billion worth of aircraft and spacecraft led by the following countries:
1. France: $31 billion
2. Germany: $24.7 billion
3. United Kingdom: $15.9 billion
4. Ireland: $9.9 billion
5. Spain: $2.9 billion
6. Netherlands: $2.8 billion
7. Italy: $2.5 billion
8. Switzerland: $1.8 billion
9. Luxembourg: $1.2 billion
10. Norway: $969 million
Latin American and Caribbean Importers
Latin America imported $7.5 billion worth of aircraft and spacecraft led by the following countries:
1. Colombia: $2.6 billion
2. Brazil: $2.3 billion
3. Chile: $962.3 million
4. Argentina: $662.8 million
5. Venezuela: $194.2 million
6. British Virgin Islands: $173.6 million
7. Trinidad/Tobago: $124.3 million
8. Bolivia: $103.3 million
9. Cayman Islands: $58.7 million
10. Falkland Is (Malvinas): $57.8 million
Middle Eastern Importers
Middle East imported $22.4 billion worth of aircraft and spacecraft led by the following countries:
1. United Arab Emirates: $15.4 billion
2. Saudi Arabia: $3.3 billion
3. Qatar: $2 billion
4. Israel: $505.3 million
5. Iraq: $465.9 million
6. Oman: $369.3 million
7. Bahrain: $143.1 million
8. Jordan: $139.9 million
9. Lebanon: $34.1 million
10. Iran: $29.5 million
North American Importers
North America imported $44.4 billion worth of aircraft and spacecraft led by the following countries:
1. United States: $35.3 billion
2. Canada: $8.8 billion
3. Mexico: $312.9 million
Oceanian Importers
Oceania imported $2.4 billion worth of aircraft and spacecraft led by the following countries:
1. New Zealand: $1.3 billion
2. Australia: $701.8 million
3. Fiji: $167.7 million
4. Papua New Guinea: $100.1 million
5. French Polynesia: $72.3 million
6. Marshall Islands: $10.9 million
7. New Caledonia: $10.8 million
8. Solomon Islands: $3.2 million
9. Kiribati: $2.7 million
10. Palau: $1.1 million
To see the 25 fastest-growing aircraft and spacecraft importers from 2011 to 2015, use the slidebar on the accompanying list. Overall, the 5-year percentage gain for globally imported aircraft and spacecraft was 36.8%.
Data source: Trade Map, International Trade Centre, www.intracen.org/marketanalysis
Top Aircraft Importers 2015
Fastest-Growing Aircraft and Spacecraft Import Countries
Research Note: Import numbers rarely match the source exporters’ stats. Reasons for import-export statistical discrepancies include re-exports, time lags, misallocations, distinct trade reporting systems, different quantity measurements and country confidentiality rules. Also, transportation and insurance costs are sometimes added to import totals.
