Chapter 8 - Trade Update: Authorized Small Arms Transfers

Summary

INTRODUCTION

This chapter presents information on states with the largest aggregate values of authorized small arms exports and imports in 2010, as captured by the United Nations Commodity Trade Statistic Database (UN Comtrade), noting changes since the previous year's report covering 2009 activities. It also includes the latest edition of the Small Arms Trade Transparency Barometer—normally covering transfers conducted in 2011 and not limited to UN Comtrade data—designed to assess countries' transparency in reporting on their small arms exports.

The main findings of the chapter include:

• In 2010 the top exporters of small arms and light weapons (those with annual exports of at least USD 100 million), according to available customs data, were (in descending order) the United States, Germany, Italy, Brazil, Switzerland, Israel, Austria, the Russian Federation, South Korea, Sweden, Belgium, and Spain.

• In 2010 the top importers of small arms and light weapons (those with annual imports of at least USD 100 million), according to available customs data, were (in descending order) the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Germany, Australia, South Korea, France, and Thailand.

• The 2013 edition of the Barometer identifies Switzerland, Romania, and Serbia as the most transparent of the major exporters, and Iran, North Korea, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates as the least transparent.