The United States accounted for more than two-thirds of foreign weapons sales in 2008, The New York Times reports.

Citing a congressional study released on Friday, the Times said the United States was involved in 68.4 per cent of the global sales of arms.

US weapons sales jumped nearly 50 per cent in 2008 despite the global economic recession to $US37.8 billion ($44.4 billion) from $US25.4 billion the year before.

The jump defied worldwide trends, as global arms sales fell 7.6 per cent to $US55.2 billion in 2008, the report said. Global weapons agreements were at their lowest level since 2005.

Italy, the second ranked country, amassed only $US3.7 billion in arms sales, while Russia ranked third with sales falling to $US3.5 billion in 2008, down from $US10.8 billion in 2007.

The report attributed the increase in US sales to "major new orders from clients in the Near East and in Asia" as well as to continued contracts for equipment and support services with globally based US clients, the Times said.

- Reuters