In view of numerous wars and conflicts in the world, the international arms industry has set a new sales record.
Dec 1, 2025, 3:44 am12/01/2025, 03:45
The world’s 100 largest arms producers increased their total revenue from the sale of arms and military services by a currency-adjusted 5.9 percent in 2024, the Stockholm peace research institute Sipri said in a new report. Together they achieved sales of around 679 billion US dollars (currently equivalent to around 586 billion euros), the highest value ever recorded.
Artillery shells produced by the German arms company Rheinmetall.Image: keystone
The peace researchers report that the demand for armaments was driven by the wars in Ukraine and the Gaza Strip, geopolitical tensions on a global and regional level, and ever-increasing military spending. Many producers have expanded their production lines, enlarged facilities, founded subsidiaries or taken over other companies.
The USA remains the absolute leader in the industry, where 39 of the 100 companies observed have their headquarters. Together, after an increase of 3.8 percent, they reach arms sales of $334 billion, almost half of the global total.
Germany’s corporations make a big leap
In Europe, collective arms sales grew by 13 percent to $151 billion due to high demand due to the war in Ukraine and the perceived threat from Russia. The four listed companies from Germany – Rheinmetall (20th place), ThyssenKrupp (61), Hensoldt (62) and Diehl (67) – even achieved a total jump in sales of a whopping 36 percent to 14.9 billion dollars. Swiss companies are not among the top 100 on the list.
Here go to the Sipri list.
(sda/dpa/con)