According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SPIRI) Arms Transfers Database, the USA exported an annual average of $7,964,100,000 (£4,000,271,235) worth of arms – defined as major conventional weapons or systems in six categories: ships, aircraft, missiles, artillery, armoured vehicles and guidance and radar systems – in the ten years between 1998 and 2007. Between 2003 and 2007, the top five suppliers – The USA, Russia, Germany, France, and the UK – together accounted for 80% of international arms export.

There was an 8% deop in international arms trade between 2006 and 2007, although this does follow six years of continuous increases. The Middle East, South Asia and South-East Asia arranged significant arms orders in 2007, although there was a more significant 62% drop in order by China (mostly from Russia)