South Korea
South Korea is the world’s ninth-largest exporter of arms, and has seen a 74% increase in its export volumes from 2018 to 2022. In 2022, South Korea’s arms sales reached more than $17 billion, up from $7.25 billion in 2021. South Korea’s defense industry is supported by government incentives, attractive pricing, and faster delivery times.
- South Korea’s top trade partners are India and China, which have also been prioritizing the development of their own weapons industries.
- South Korea’s defense industry has been able to compete with Western defense manufacturers and Chinese developers.
- Companies like Korea Aerospace Industries, Hyundai Rotem, and Hanwha Defense dominate the country’s defense industry.
Top 10 Largest Arms Exporters in the World [2024]
Arms exports are the export of military and dual-use items to other nations. Dual-use items can be used for both military and civilian purposes. In 2018–2022, the five largest arms exporters were the United States, Russia, France, China, and Germany. Together, they supplied 76% of the world’s arms exports in 2018–2022.
In this article, we will discuss the top 10 arms-exporting countries in the world along with their total export and trading partners.