BiH military industry booming, with record high exports

The Indirect Taxation Authority of Bosnia and Herzegovina (UNO), which is the equivalent of the country's customs authority, reported that in the first two months of this year, the value of military equipment exports reached 91.2 million Bosnian marks, or €46.6 million.

Although this figure may not seem impressive on its own, what is significant is that it represents double the value compared to the same period in 2024, with a difference of 50 million marks (€26 million).

In 2024, the total value of military exports from Bosnia and Herzegovina was around 400 million marks (€200 million), which was about 100 million marks higher compared to 2023. The initial trend this year suggests that all of these numbers will be significantly exceeded in 2025.

The value of these exports from Bosnia and Herzegovina is even more significant because the country does not manufacture complex and expensive weapons systems, but primarily ammunition, which is relatively cheap yet increasingly in demand.

According to UNO data, during the first two months of this year, the most sought-after products from Bosnia and Herzegovina were bombs, grenades, torpedoes, mines, rockets, military ammunition, and spare parts.

As in previous years, Bosnia and Herzegovina has exported the most weapons to Czechia, the United States, Saudi Arabia and Serbia, according to data from UNO, which was reported by Banja Luka's Nezavisne Novine newspaper on Wednesday.

One of these companies is Tehnicki Remont from Bratunac (TRB) in eastern Bosnia, which primarily exports to the Middle East, but also to Italy, Romania and southern Africa.

The majority owner of the company, Slavenko Ristic, stated that the data showing growth in exports is not surprising, as global geopolitical events and crises fuel fears of new conflicts.

"All of this creates an opportunity and chance for our defence industry to find its niche in the global market, as an industry that offers products, not politics," said Ristic.

His estimate is that Bosnia and Herzegovina's advantage lies in being the only country in the Balkans that "does not offer its politics but good products at competitive prices."