German prosthetics exports to Russia reach €79 million in first half of 2026
Germany sold Russia limb prostheses and joint implants worth €79 million in the first half of 2026, more than five times the figure for the same period of 2021. The rise is linked to a higher number of prostheses issued in Russia.
Germany exported limb prostheses and endoprostheses (implants that replace joints) worth €79 million to Russia in January–June 2026. That is more than five times the amount in the first half of 2021 and almost €19 million more than in the first half of 2025. The Russian edition of Forbes reported the figures on Wednesday, citing Eurostat, the European Union's statistics office. The topic matters because Russia continues its war against Ukraine, while EU sanctions allow humanitarian exemptions.
What grew
Endoprosthesis deliveries rose fastest, by a factor of 1.5 to €37.8 million, accounting for almost 70% of the total increase. Arm and leg prostheses, their components and other artificial body parts made up €41.2 million, 16% more than a year earlier. Compared with the first half of 2021, deliveries of limb prostheses grew 5.4 times (from €7.6 million) and endoprostheses 6.1 times (from €6.2 million). Forbes says the sharp rise began in 2024, when imports in both categories nearly doubled against 2022 and 2023.
Reasons
The growth is tied to more prostheses being issued by Russian authorities: according to Russia's Ministry of Labour, more than 99,500 items in 2023 and 152,600 in 2024. Experts interviewed by Forbes cite a faster issuing procedure and a growing share of young people among those in need. According to data from the state corporation Rostec, these are mainly participants in Russia's war against Ukraine who were wounded.
Other countries and companies
The Eurostat data cover 11 EU states, but 94% of deliveries come from three: Germany (55%), the Netherlands (23%) and Belgium (17%). Germany's share of endoprostheses is 52%. Total EU exports of such products to Russia amount to €144.9 million. The newspaper Die Welt notes that the deliveries are possible thanks to humanitarian exemptions in EU sanctions. Ottobock, Germany's largest prosthetics maker, saw its half-year net profit rise from €28 million to €67.3 million; it noted higher demand in Russia and Ukraine but called this a small part of its European business.
