Arms trade in 2000

US sales: $18.6 bn Russian sales: $17.7bn World sales up 8% 68% of US sales to developing countries

68% of the American arms sales went to developing countries.

US industry signed deals worth some $18.6 billion in 2000.

Next came Russia, with $17.7billion in sales, followed by France, Germany, Britain, China and Italy.

A significant factor in the increase in US orders was a multi-billion dollar contract for F-16 fighters from the United Arab Emirates.

Primary markets

The report says that global arms sales increased by 8% in 2000 - the third year of growth in a row.

Since the end of the cold war arms orders from many established military powers have been in decline.

The UN says that inflows of small arms are fuelling conflict in Africa

But the Congressional Research Service report suggests that developing nations are now the primary market for arms suppliers.

The report notes Russia's continuing arms sales to Iran and also China's efforts to sell arms, especially missiles, abroad, though Chinese arms sales fell off significantly last year.

The Bush administration is eager to encourage both Moscow and Beijing to pursue what it sees as a more responsible arms sales policy but, given America's dominant position in the global arms trade, they are likely to tell Washington to practise what it preaches.