*

Foreign procurement deals nearly tripled from $87 billion

in

2024

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Massive increase in Boeing ( BA ) orders drives increase, Trump

says he

is their 'greatest salesman'

*

Aerospace deals total $217 billion, defense contracts $10

billion, Commerce Department says

By David Lawder

WASHINGTON, Jan 23 (Reuters) - U.S. companies signed

foreign government procurement contracts worth $244 billion in

2025 with assistance from the U.S. Commerce Department, nearly

triple the total in 2024 as Boeing ( BA ) logged a massive increase in

jetliner orders, the agency's International Trade Administration

said on Friday.

ITA said that the 121 contracts, also ‌aided by foreign

spending commitments in recent trade deals negotiated by the

Trump administration, contain about $206 billion in U.S. export

content and will support about 844,000 American jobs.

In 2024, the last year ​of the Biden administration, ITA

logged $87 billion contracts signed, which was up significantly

from a COVID-era low of $17 billion in 2021.

The jump ‍for 2025 comes with a massive increase in Boeing ( BA )

jetliner net orders to 1,075 last year from ⁠377 in 2024. Boeing ( BA )

in 2025 ⁠rebounded to its sixth-best order year ever and topped

arch rival Airbus' net orders for the first time in seven years.

Sales of Boeing ( BA ) planes and GE Aerospace jet engines

made ‌up $215 billion of the total ITA-assisted 2025 contracts,

based on value estimates ​released by the Trump administration,

with $187 billion in export value. The total included a record

deal with Qatar Airways for up to 210 widebody 787 and 777X

aircraft valued at $96 billion, including engines.

Boeing ( BA ) CEO Kelly Ortberg signed the ⁠deal with President

Donald Trump and Qatar's Emir Tamim bin Hamad ‍Al Thani during

Trump's ​visit to Doha in May. Trump has boasted that he's the

"greatest salesman in the history of Boeing ( BA )."

The aircraft total also includes a deal valued at $50

billion with Korean Air Lines that was billed as part of a U.S.

trade ‍and investment deal with the Asian exporter that reduced

tariff rates and includes $350 billion in other investments.

Value estimates on announced aircraft orders are often based

on list prices, but the final sale price of a jetliner can vary

widely depending on myriad factors, such as the customer's size

and loyalty, delivery timing, long-term maintenance agreements,

order volume and materials cost escalation terms.

Planemakers collect most of their payment when a jet is

delivered, so Boeing ( BA ) will not see the bulk of the money from

these orders until several years after Trump's term ends ​in

2029.

The Commerce Department's ‍totals only include signed

contracts, so a number of preliminary Boeing ( BA ) purchase

commitments announced last year by Malaysia, Bangladesh and

other countries as part of trade negotiations would likely be

counted in the 2026 totals if the contracts are finalized, an

ITA ​spokesperson said.

"We are laser-focused on promoting investment,

manufacturing, and new opportunities for American companies and

workers," Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said in a statement.

"While 2025 was historic, it was just the beginning. We will

continue to usher in a new era of American manufacturing and

prosperity."

The ITA's Assistance Center advises companies on bidding for

foreign government procurement contracts, and often sets up

meetings between foreign decision-makers and high-ranking U.S.

officials to promote American firms, marshaling resources from

various U.S. agencies.

U.S. locomotive maker Wabtec signed a $4.2 billion contract

to supply 300 heavy-haul locomotive kits to Kazakhstan in

September after an advocacy campaign that included a phone call

between ​Trump and Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, the

ITA said.

The Wabtec deal, its largest foreign sale ever, was among

$8.3 billion in global infrastructure and supply chain projects

won by U.S. companies in 2025, ITA said.

The agency said that the $244 billion total also includes

$10 billion in defense sector contracts, $7 billion in energy

sector contracts and $3.4 billion in technology ‍sector

contracts, including AI, cybersecurity, fintech and healthcare.