STOCKHOLM -- US arms exports increased by 29 percent in 2009-2013 and 2014-2018, and the US' share of total global exports rose from 30 percent to 36 percent, the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) said in a report on Monday.

"The gap between the top two arms-exporting states also increased: US exports of major arms were 75 percent higher than Russia's in 2014-2018, while they were only 12 percent higher in 2009-2013. More than half (52 percent) of US arms exports went to the Middle East in 2014-2018."

"The USA has further solidified its position as the world's leading arms supplier," said Aude Fleurant, director of the SIPRI Arms and Military Expenditure Programme. "The USA exported arms to at least 98 countries in the past five years; these deliveries often included advanced weapons, such as combat aircraft, short-range cruise and ballistic missiles, and large numbers of guided bombs."

Globally, the volume of international transfers of major arms in 2014-2018 was 7.8 percent higher than in 2009-2013 and 23 percent higher than in 2004-2008, the report said.

Meanwhile, arms imports by states in the Middle East increased by 87 percent in 2009-2013 and 2014-2018, and accounted for 35 percent of global arms imports in 2014-2018. Saudi Arabia became the world's largest arms importer in 2014-2018, with an increase of 192 percent compared with 2009-2013.

Headquartered in Stockholm, SIPRI's research covers international conflicts, armaments, arms control and disarmament.