Global Shortage of TNT Caused by the Ukraine War: Impacts on Industry and Security
Since the escalation of the Ukraine conflict in 2022, the world has faced significant disruptions not only in geopolitics but also in critical resource supplies and industrial supply chains.
One of the most alarming consequences is the sharp decline in the availability of TNT, an explosive substance that has served for over a century in military, construction, and industrial applications.
Thanks to its explosive properties, TNT has been indispensable in manufacturing artillery shells, aerial bombs, and also in civilian sectors such as road construction, mineral extraction, and large-scale infrastructure projects.Historically, TNT production was scaled up during both world wars and the post-war recovery, with millions of tons manufactured globally.
However, due to the environmental hazards associated with its manufacturing, particularly toxic waste, the United States shut down its last domestic TNT plant in the 1980s.
Since then, the U.S.
has relied on foreign suppliers from China, Russia, Poland, and Ukraine, which have offered competitive prices and handled the disposal of hazardous waste.Recent events have drastically altered this supply chain.
With Russia and China halting or restricting exports of explosives after the onset of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the United States faces a critical shortage.
To address this, the U.S.
Congress has approved the construction of a new TNT manufacturing plant in Kentucky, with a budget of $435 million, slated to begin operations by 2028.
However, this facility will produce only for military needs, leaving civilian industries vulnerable.The shortage threatens to slow down construction projects, mining, and infrastructure development across the country.
Meanwhile, the military and industry are seeking alternatives, including the use of pentritol tetranitrate (PETN), which is already produced in several U.S.
plants.
Scaling up domestic production of TNT and its substitutes remains a priority, with additional sources also being explored, including shipments from Japan for military and Ukrainian needs.This crisis underscores the broader geopolitical and economic risks associated with dependence on international suppliers for critical military materials.
As stockpiles dwindle and prices rise, the U.S.
and its allies will have to navigate complex challenges to maintain military readiness and infrastructure development, all while dealing with the environmental and logistical complications of explosive manufacturing.