In 2014 global defense spending increased for a sixth year in a row, according to a study by business analyst firm IHS. Defense trade rose by 13.4 per cent to 64.4bln US dollars. These are the countries the imported the most weapons and those that exported the most. The US tops the exporters of military equipment, followed by Russia. In 2014 Saudi Arabia surpassed India as the world’s largest importer of weapons. The infographic below shows the big buyers and sellers. A senior IHS analyst said this unprecedented demand has been driven from the emerging economies for military aircraft and the escalating tensions in the Middle East and Asia pacific regions.