Bulgaria has released its export reports for 2017. According to the report, Sofia’s arms exports continued to grow in 2017 as well.

According to the official report issued by Bulgaria, exported arms amount 1,219 billion Euros in 2017. This amount was 1 billion Euro in 2016. One of the reasons for the 20% increase in exports is the conflicts in the Middle East. The main customers of Bulgaria were the United States, India, Iraq and Saudi Arabia. Western Experts say that the weapons and ammunition purchased by the US and Saudi Arabia are mostly supplied for the armed groups they support in Syria and Yemen.

Bulgaria had a strong arms industry consisting of 115,000 employees during the Warsaw Pact. The conflicts in the Middle East continue to raise arms sales of Bulgaria since the collapse of the Soviet Union. Currently, the Bulgarian defence industry continues its activities with 30,000 employees.