Explosives Market Report 2025

The explosives market size has grown strongly in recent years. It will grow from $6.14 billion in 2024 to $6.68 billion in 2025 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.7%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to increasing military expenditure, low interest rates, an increase in demand for natural stones and government initiatives towards the mining industry.

The explosives market size is expected to see strong growth in the next few years. It will grow to $9.37 billion in 2029 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.8%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to an increase in territorial and political conflicts, global population growth and urbanization, increasing infrastructure development expenditure by governments and increasing construction activities. Major trends in the forecast period include adopting various sustainable or green approaches to develop smart blasting, leveraging digital technologies in operations, using advanced technologies for explosion activity and focusing on product differentiation and innovation.

The increase in government spending on the defense sector across various countries, including the USA, China, India, Russia, the UK, and France, is expected to significantly drive the growth of the explosives market during this period. For example, in April 2023, a report from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, a Sweden-based international organization, indicated that global military spending rose by 3.7 percent in real terms in 2022, reaching a record high of $2.24 trillion. Notably, military expenditures in Europe experienced a significant 13 percent increase over the year. The United States accounted for 39 percent of the world's military spending in 2022, while China represented 13 percent, maintaining their positions as the top two spenders. They were followed by Russia at 3.9 percent, India at 3.6 percent, and Saudi Arabia at 3.3 percent, together making up 63 percent of total global military expenditure for the year. Consequently, the rising government investment in the defense sector is projected to enhance the demand for explosives from this sector during the forecast period.

The escalating frequency of terrorist attacks is anticipated to contribute to the expansion of the explosives market. These attacks, characterized by violent acts or threats intended to instill fear for political, religious, or ideological motives, often involve the use of explosives. Explosives may be employed in training exercises to prepare law enforcement and military personnel for responding to such attacks. Notably, as of March 2023, reports from ReliefWeb indicated that terrorist attacks in 2022 became more deadly, with an average of 1.7 deaths per attack compared to 1.3 deaths per attack in 2021. Consequently, the heightened occurrence of terrorist incidents is fostering growth in the explosives market.

Prominent companies are making strategic investments in firms operating within the explosives market. These investments are aimed at gaining access to cutting-edge technologies and expertise in explosives manufacturing, expanding product offerings, and diversifying overall portfolios. For example, in October 2022, Formant, a US-based robotics data and operations platform, concluded a $21 million funding round, led by BMW i Ventures and joined by Intel Capital and GS Futures. The investment is intended to expedite Formant's growth and enhance its platform capabilities for helping companies manage and optimize their robotic fleets. This investment reflects the increasing interest in robotics and automation, fostering innovation and investment in related industries such as explosives manufacturing.

Leading companies in the explosives market are developing advanced products, such as bulk explosives systems, to enhance safety, minimize handling risks, and improve efficiency. A bulk explosives system is an industrial setup specifically designed for the production, transportation, and delivery of large quantities of explosives, typically employed in mining, construction, and quarrying operations for effective on-site blasting applications. For example, in March 2023, Orica, an Australia-based explosives manufacturer, introduced Subtek 4D. This product offers the widest energy range available in the underground market, enabling precise energy matching to meet various rock properties and mining design requirements. With this innovative solution, underground operators gain exceptional control over energy delivery using a single explosive formulation. By utilizing this technology, users can achieve optimal mining outcomes while promoting sustainable blasting practices.

In August 2023, Rheinmetall AG, a Germany-based automotive and arms manufacturer, acquired Expal Systems for $1.27 billion. Through this acquisition, Rheinmetall aims to fortify its core business in weapons, ammunition, and propellants. Expal Systems, a Spain-based defense and space manufacturing company, is globally recognized for its extensive product portfolio, including artillery ammunition, mortar and medium-caliber rounds, fuses, and rocket propulsion systems. The acquisition significantly enhances Rheinmetall's existing product portfolio, particularly in the rapidly growing market for artillery and mortar ammunition, as well as mortar systems.

Major companies operating in the explosives market include Orica Limited, AECI Limited, Incitec Pivot Ltd., Hanwha Corporation, ENAEX S.A., Austin Powder Company, Omnia Group, China Poly Group Corporation, Chemring Group, Maxamcorp Holding S.L., Premier Explosives Ltd, Solar Industries India Ltd, Gocl Corporation Ltd, Kayaku Japan Co., Ltd, Ysk Inc, Dyno Nobel, Johnson Hi-Tech (Australia) Pty Ltd, Ui Energy Corporation, Jun Poong Industrial Co., Ltd, Anhui Jiangnan Chemical Co., Ltd, Cbi Explosives Industry Group, Hse Explosives, Orica Uk Ltd, Ces Advanced Composites Uk Ltd, Conjay Collectors Ammunition Company Ltd, Maxam - Mining Technology, Societe Suisse Des Explosifs, Sse Group, Biazzi Sa, Azottech, Ao Nmp Spark, Nitro Sibir, Hunting Plc, Geodynamics, Accurate Energetic Systems Llc, Maine Drilling And Blasting, Dynaenergetics Us, Inc, Exsa Sa, Keltec Energies, Economic Explosives, Ibp Co, Noble Explochem, Detotec North America Inc., Modern Chemicals and Services Company, Drill And Blast, Eurenco Sa, Nof Corp, Ael Mining Services Ltd./ Aeci Group, Sasol Limited, Bme (Bulk Mining Explosive), Titanobel.

Asia-Pacific was the largest region in the explosives market in 2024. Western Europe is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the global explosives market share during the forecast period. The regions covered in the explosives market report are Asia-Pacific, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, Africa. The countries covered in the explosives market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Italy, Canada, Spain.

Explosives are substances, mixtures, and chemical compounds with the capability of undergoing explosive reactions. The two primary categories of explosives are high explosives, utilized in defense and military contexts, and low explosives, employed in civilian applications.

The key types of explosives include C4, HMX, PETN, RDX, Dynamite, ANFO, and others. C-4, a plastic explosive sharing a design with Semtex, finds application in both military and terrorist activities, known for its efficacy in creating both attention and impact. These explosives are used across various industries, including military, mining, quarrying, construction, and others, in applications such as display, consumer, process, and other pyrotechnics.

The explosives market research report is one of a series of new reports that provides explosives market statistics, including explosives industry global market size, regional shares, competitors with an explosives market share, detailed explosives market segments, market trends and opportunities, and any further data you may need to thrive in the explosives industry. This explosives market research report delivers a complete perspective of everything you need, with an in-depth analysis of the current and future scenario of the industry.

The explosives market consists of sales of blasting and bulk explosives, perforating explosives, and special-application explosives. Values in this market are factory gate values, that is the value of goods sold by the manufacturers or creators of the goods, whether to other entities (including downstream manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors, and retailers) or directly to end customers. The value of goods in this market includes related services sold by the creators of the goods.

The market value is defined as the revenues that enterprises gain from the sale of goods and/or services within the specified market and geography through sales, grants, or donations in terms of the currency (in USD, unless otherwise specified).

The revenues for a specified geography are consumption values that are revenues generated by organizations in the specified geography within the market, irrespective of where they are produced. It does not include revenues from resales along the supply chain, either further along the supply chain or as part of other products.

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