Article

In 2023, EU exports of space vehicles and transport services reached €2.2 billion, while imports totaled €628 million, according to Eurostat. Exports peaked in 2012 at €3.71 billion but fell to €1.51 billion in 2016.

A rebound occurred in 2022 with exports at €2.54 billion after a drop due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Space vehicle exports specifically were valued at €1.72 billion in 2023. The intra-EU trade in these products hit a low of €550 million, the lowest since 2010.

The European space economy is projected to grow to $85 billion by 2026, with a potential upstream value of $408 billion by 2035. Current ESA budgets for 2026-2028 exceed €22 billion.