China was the largest supplier to the main importing countries.
What this market covers
Firearms that fire repeatedly while the trigger is held, including machine guns and sub machine guns. Armed forces and some security services buy them under strict export and licensing controls.
Typical segments
- Sub machine guns
- Light machine guns
- Heavy machine guns
- Assault rifles
Top importing countries
Customs import value under HS 930190 in each country's latest reported year (in brackets), USD million.
GCC and Africa
Import value by country group, latest reported year per country, USD million.
Why this market is moving now
- EU exports of the matching CN code to the region fell 73% from 2020 to 2025.
- Demand is concentrated: one country took a large share of the region's reported imports.
About the data
Figures are customs import values (CIF, US dollars) that 15 countries reported to UN Comtrade for HS code 930190 (Military weapons, incl. sub-machine guns). Each country's latest reported year is used: Bahrain 2021, Cote d'Ivoire 2025, Egypt 2025, Ethiopia 2020, Ghana 2025, Kenya 2025, Kuwait 2024, Morocco 2020, Nigeria 2025, Oman 2020, Saudi Arabia 2025, South Africa 2022, Tanzania 2025, Tunisia 2024, United Arab Emirates 2023.
No import data for this code was available from Algeria, Israel, Jordan, Qatar.
South Africa reports import values FOB (free on board) rather than CIF.
Supplier figures add up the partner breakdown that the largest importing countries reported for their latest year. Partner areas that the reporters did not specify are left out of the list.
EU export figures are Eurostat Comext values in euros for CN code 93019000 (Military weapons, incl. sub-machine guns), the code used on the EU page for this market. Shares, changes and per-kilogram values are calculated from these figures. No figure on this page is a forecast.
Key figures
Each figure names the source it came from. Open the source list below to read the quoted line.
| Figure | Value | Year | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Customs data from 15 Middle East and Africa countries shows imports of $30.2 million under HS code 930190 (Military weapons, incl. sub-machine guns) in their latest year with data (2025 for 7 countries, 2024 for 2, 2023 for 1, 2022 for 1, 2021 for 1 and 2020 for 3). | 30.2 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| South Africa was the largest importer among the countries covered, with $14.1 million in 2022, or 47% of the total. | 14.1 USD million | 2022 | UN Comtrade |
| Nigeria followed with $8.8 million in 2025. | 8.8 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| The 5 GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) countries with data accounted for $232 thousand, or 1% of the total, in their latest reported years. | 232 USD thousand | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| The 10 African countries with data accounted for $30.0 million, or 99% of the total. | 30.0 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| China was the largest supplier to the 3 largest importing countries in the region, which took 88% of its reported imports, with $13.6 million, or 51% of their imports under HS 930190 (partner data for each country's latest year). | 13.6 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| The average import value under HS 930190 was $137.70 per kilogram across the 12 countries that reported net weight, calculated from UN Comtrade value and weight. | 137.70 USD per kg | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| EU exports of CN 93019000 (Military weapons, incl. sub-machine guns) to the 8 Middle East and Africa countries covered were worth €462 thousand in 2025. | 462 EUR thousand | 2025 | Eurostat |
| EU exports of CN 93019000 to these countries were down 73% in 2025 compared with 2020, when they were €1.7 million, calculated from Eurostat values. | -73 % since 2020 | 2025 | Eurostat |
| Nigeria was the largest of these destinations for EU exports of CN 93019000 in 2025, at €227 thousand. | 227 EUR thousand | 2025 | Eurostat |
Sources and method
The figures on this page come from the public sources listed below. Read how we work.
- UN Comtrade: UN Comtrade database, annual imports by HS code (public preview API) (2026-11-06)
Quoted lines
- Figure 1
cmdCode=930190 flowCode=M partnerCode=0 primaryValue: ARE2023=158001; BHR2021=4270; CIV2025=1802284; EGY2025=1414; ETH2020=139582; GHA2025=1101552; KEN2025=3760269; KWT2024=66809; MAR2020=15; NGA2025=8842845; OMN2020=1802; SAU2025=1584; TUN2024=233879; TZA2025=1425; ZAF2022=14067213; sum=30182944 (shown as 30.2 USD million)
- Figure 3
reporterCode 566, period 2025, cmdCode 930190, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, primaryValue 8842845
- Figure 4
cmdCode 930190, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, sum of primaryValue for ARE BHR KWT OMN SAU = 232466; share 1%
- Figure 5
cmdCode 930190, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, sum of primaryValue for CIV EGY ETH GHA KEN MAR NGA TUN TZA ZAF = 29950477; share 99% (shown as 30.0 USD million)
- Figure 7
cmdCode 930190, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, sum of primaryValue 28780704 / sum of netWgt 209014 kg = 137.70 USD per kg
- Figure 1
- UN Comtrade: UN Comtrade database, annual imports by HS code (public preview API) (2026-11-06)
Quoted lines
- Figure 2
reporterCode 710, period 2022, cmdCode 930190, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, primaryValue 14067213; share of 30182944 = 47% (shown as 14.1 USD million)
- Figure 2
- UN Comtrade: UN Comtrade database, annual imports by HS code (public preview API) (2026-11-06)
Quoted lines
- Figure 6
cmdCode 930190, flowCode M, partnerCode 156, primaryValue summed over reporters = 13642092; world 26670327; share 51%
- Figure 6
- Eurostat: EU trade since 1988 by HS2-4-6 and CN8 (DS-045409) (2026-11-06)
Quoted lines
- Figure 8
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 93019000, flow export, VALUE_IN_EUROS, 2025: AE=158759; EG=1212; IL=2900; JO=7500; MA=62992; NG=227014; OM=1148; QA=402; sum 461927 (shown as 462 EUR thousand)
- Figure 9
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 93019000, flow export, VALUE_IN_EUROS, sum over the same partners: 2020 = 1686380; 2025 = 461927; change -73%
- Figure 10
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 93019000, partner NG, flow export, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 227014
- Figure 8
Buyers and suppliers
Who buys
- Armed forces
- Law enforcement agencies
- Defence ministries
Large suppliers to the countries covered
EU exports to the largest destinations in the region, 2025
Eurostat Comext, CN 93019000, EUR million.
What the full report covers
- 01Executive summary
The answer in one page: size, direction and what moves it - 02Market definition and scope
What is in and out of the Middle East and Africa market - 03Market size, 2021 to 2025
Historical series and growth rates - 04Outlook to 2031
Base, low and high scenarios with stated assumptions - 05Rules, policy and deadlines
Regulation and programmes that change demand - 06Drivers and barriers
What accelerates or slows adoption, by customer segment - 07Prices, costs and margins
Unit economics where public data allows - 08Competitive landscape
8 to 12 company profiles with recent moves - 09Opportunities and risks
For new entrants, suppliers and investors - 10Method and sources
Every assumption and source, listed
Included with the full report
- PDF report, 40 to 60 pages
- Excel data pack
- Ready-to-use charts
- Method note and assumptions
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Frequently asked questions
How big is the Middle East and Africa automatic weapons market?
There is no single official market total. Customs data reported to UN Comtrade shows imports of $30.2 million under HS code 930190 by 15 countries in the region, using the latest year each one reported.
Which Middle East and Africa countries import the most automatic weapons?
South Africa was the largest importer, followed by Nigeria and Kenya.
Where does the Middle East and Africa import automatic weapons from?
China was the largest supplier to the largest importing countries in the region. Other large suppliers included Turkey, Serbia and Bulgaria.
How do GCC and African imports of automatic weapons compare?
The GCC countries with data took $232 thousand, or 1% of the total, and the African countries with data took $30.0 million, or 99%, each in its latest reported year.
How much automatic weapons does the EU export to the Middle East and Africa?
Eurostat shows EU exports of CN 93019000 to the countries covered of €462 thousand in 2025. Nigeria was the largest destination.
What is the average import price of automatic weapons in the Middle East and Africa?
Dividing UN Comtrade import value by net weight gives about $137.70 per kilogram for HS 930190, across the countries that reported weight.
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