German arms maker Rheinmetall
on Wednesday said it expects 2025 sales to jump by 25-30% this year, amid expectations of “major high-volume orders from military customers” that could gain a further boost from a recent change in tack in European defense policy.
The company reported a 36% jump in consolidated sales in 2024, with sales in the defense business up 50%. Defense sales are expected to grow by 35% to 40% this year, Rheinmetall said.
Last year’s sales boom helped push Rheinmetall’s operating profit to a record high, up 61% to 1.48 billion euros ($1.61 billion). Operating margin for the year stood at 15.2%, up from 12.8% in 2023.
By the end of last year, Rheinmetall said its order backlog had also reached a record high of 55 billion euros. It said it expected “major high-volume orders from military customers” in the coming years.
