Taipei: Taiwan’s drone exports soared nearly 750% year-on-year in the first half of 2025, with Poland the biggest buyer, as European countries ramped up orders amid the European Union’s (EU) growing focus on defense and cybersecurity, according to the Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA).
According to Focus Taiwan, Taiwan exported US$11.89 million worth of drones in the first half of 2025, marking a 749 percent increase from the previous year. Poland emerged as the largest importer, accounting for over 54 percent of the total exports with purchases amounting to US$6.48 million, as per Customs data.
The United States followed as the second-largest buyer, importing US$1.55 million worth of Taiwanese drones during the same period, representing a 209 percent year-on-year increase. Germany ranked third with purchases totaling US$1.46 million, marking a significant 258-fold rise from the previous year.
The Czech Republic, which began importing Taiwan-made drones earlier this year, stood fourth with purchases of US$1.04 million, surpassing Hong Kong’s US$1 million, which reflected a 36.9 percent increase from the year before.
The data revealed that the top five buyers constituted approximately 97 percent of Taiwan’s total drone exports in the first half of 2025.
TAITRA, a government-backed trade promotion group, emphasized that, amid rising geopolitical tensions, European countries are striving to enhance defense and cybersecurity capabilities. This has led to the development of key components and the establishment of a “non-red” supply chain by seeking non-Chinese suppliers.
The organization noted that escalating conflicts, such as the Ukraine-Russia war and tensions in the Middle East, have prompted the EU to focus on Taiwan-made drones. The EU is attracted by Taiwan’s strengths in information and communication technology (ICT) and its proven manufacturing capabilities.
TAITRA also highlighted that Taiwan’s commitment to democratic values has appealed to like-minded buyers in Europe. With increasing demand from European markets, Taiwanese drones are being utilized for military purposes, including border security, homeland monitoring, and anti-drone defense. Additionally, the private sector is adopting drones for agriculture, infrastructure inspections, and urban surveillance.
TAITRA noted that European governments and companies are actively seeking reliable drone suppliers, and Taiwan has capitalized on this opportunity to penetrate the market.
In September 2024, the Taiwan Excellence Drone International Business Opportunities Alliance (TEDIBOA) was established, comprising over 120 members specializing in areas such as drone system integration and critical component development.
The alliance has facilitated the coordination of members’ efforts to promote their products internationally. While Chinese drones remain cost-effective, an industry source indicated that the growing demand for secure, non-Chinese supply chains has enabled Taiwanese suppliers to gain traction in European and American markets.
The source added that TEDIBOA members excel in drone assembly, module and battery development, and ground equipment, allowing Taiwanese manufacturers to swiftly respond to client needs through vertical and horizontal integration.