U.S. imports of ammunition reached yet another new high of 2,865 tons in November, Panjiva data shows, a 206% increase on a year earlier. This brings the 12 month total to 17,850 tons including all grades of shot, cartridges, assembled bullets and components. Imports of completed weapons and parts actually fell, with a 13% reduction for the month on a year earlier, though within this parts increased 28.6%. This brought the 12 month total to 566 TEUs, or 5.6% higher than the same period a year earlier.

Data for weapons and parts in TEUs, ammunition in metric tons. Source: Panjiva

The largest exporters to the U.S. in November were Poongsan Corp (South Korea), Fiocchi Munizioni (Italy) and Prvi Partizan (Serbia). Poongsan, a diversified copper products manufacturer, is notable in that its imports historically have been minimal. Yet it accounted for 34.6% of the growth in imports in the past six months vs. the previous six month period. The largest of the buyers remains Eurosport (Texas), though the imports from South Korea were accounted for by Topth (California).

Imports of ammunition in metric tons segmented by company name keywords Source: Panjiva