World’s Top 5 Arms Exporters, Clients

The top 5 weapons exporters are also permanent members of the UN security council

No 1. The United-States of America is the world’s largest exporter of conventional weapons, according to Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).

The US accounted for 30% of global weapons sales for the period 2005-2009, SIPRI reported.

U.S. Top Sales
Between 2005 to 2009, U.S. sold to

• South Korea: 15%
• Israel: 13%
• United Arab Emirates: 11%

No 2. Russia is the second largest supplier of weapons with 23% of the global arms exports, the SIPRI data shows.

Russia Top Sales
Between 2005 to 2009, Russia’s main clients were:

• China: 40%
• India: 20%
• Algeria: 8%

No 3. Germany is the third-largest supplier of weapons, and saw its exports double during the 5-year period. Germany’s market share is 10% of the global total.

Germany Top Sales
Between 2005 to 2009, Germany sold to

• Turkey: 15%
• Greece: 13%
• South Africa: 12%

No 4. France is the world’s fourth-largest supplier of weapons, with a market share of 8% of the global total.

France Top Sales
Between 2005 to 2009, France’s major clients were

• United Arab Emirates: 32%
• Singapore: 13%
• Greece: 12%

No 4. United Kingdom is the fifth-largest exporter of arms, despite a 13% decline, with 4% of the global market share, SIPRI reported.

UK Top Sales
Between 2005 to 2009, UK’s main clients were

• USA: 21%
• India : 14%
• Chile: 9%

The Top 5 recipients of major conventional weapons (2004–2008)

Source: SIPRI

Top 10 largest suppliers of conventional weapons:

“In 2008, the world’s 100 largest arms-producing companies maintained the upward trend in their arms sales, which reached $385 billion, an increase of $39 billion over their arms sales in 2007. This is more than three times the size of the total development aid of OECD countries in 2008 ($120 billion).” SIPRI reported.

With arms sales reaching $32.4 billion in 2008, BAE Systems is the first non-US company to lead SIPRI’s Top 100 list of the largest arms-producing companies. Following BAE in the top 5 are Lockheed Martin, Boeing, Northrop Grumman and General Dynamics (all of the USA), according to new data on international arms production released today by Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).