Industrial Explosives Market Report 2025

The industrial explosives market size has grown strongly in recent years. It will grow from $13.96 billion in 2024 to $14.81 billion in 2025 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.1%. Growth during the historic period was driven by expanding mining activities in developing economies, increased coal demand for power generation, greater use of industrial explosives in quarrying, rising military and defense expenditures, and growing demand from metal extraction industries.

The industrial explosives market size is expected to see strong growth in the next few years. It will grow to $18.61 billion in 2029 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.9%. Growth in the forecast period is expected to be driven by the increasing adoption of digital blasting technologies, rising demand for non-electric detonators, a stronger focus on sustainable and low-emission explosives, greater automation and robotics in blasting operations, and expanding reclamation and remediation efforts. Key trends include the development of eco-friendly explosives, safer handling protocols, integration of sensors into detonators, innovations in non-toxic explosive formulations, and advancements in micro-blasting techniques.

The rise in mining activities is expected to drive the growth of the industrial explosives market in the future. Mining involves extracting valuable minerals, ores, and other geological materials from the earth, either through surface or underground methods. This increase in mining is fueled by growing global demand for critical minerals essential to clean energy technologies, prompting exploration and extraction in new areas. Industrial explosives facilitate efficient rock fragmentation, enabling mining operations to access valuable minerals more quickly and cost-effectively. For example, in January 2025, the United States Geological Survey, a US government scientific agency, reported that US metal mine production was valued at $33.5 billion in 2024, up from $33 billion in 2023. Hence, the expansion of mining activities is propelling the growth of the industrial explosives market.

Key players in the industrial explosives market are focusing on developing advanced technologies such as digital blasting systems to improve precision, safety, and operational efficiency. Digital blasting systems allow for accurate control over explosive detonations, enhancing safety, efficiency, and fragmentation in industrial explosives applications. For instance, in March 2023, Orica Limited, a US-based explosives company, launched the 4D Bulk Explosives System tailored for underground mining. This system offers real-time, precise control over explosive energy, enabling adaptation to varying geological conditions and complex blast designs. It incorporates advanced emulsion chemistry and intelligent delivery technology, allowing instant energy adjustments within or between blastholes. This boosts blast performance while reducing waste and environmental impact. Additionally, the system supports both pumped and augered loading techniques and is compatible with dry, wet, and dewatered holes, providing enhanced productivity and flexibility for mining operations.

In August 2023, Rheinmetall AG, a Germany-based arms manufacturer, acquired Expal Systems S.A.U. for $1.3 billion. Through this acquisition, Rheinmetall AG aims to substantially increase its ammunition production capacity and reinforce its role as a major supplier to NATO and allied military forces. Expal Systems S.A.U., based in Spain, is a defense company offering industrial explosives along with ammunition, explosives, and related services for military and security sectors.

Major players in the industrial explosives market are Nordex Explosives Ltd, Hanwha Corporation, Orica Ltd, Enaex S.A, AECI Ltd, NOF Corporation, Austin Powder Company, Dyno Nobel Inc., Solar Industries India Ltd., Gulf Oil Corporation Limited, Anhui Jiangnan Chemical Industry Co. Ltd., Premier Explosives Limited (PEL), Titanobel Group, Yantra India Ltd., Ideal Industrial Explosives Ltd., Economic Explosives Ltd., SBL Energy Ltd., Deccan Explotech Pvt. Ltd., GOCL Corporation Ltd., and Tamil Nadu Industrial Explosives Ltd. (TEL).

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

Note that the outlook for this market is being affected by rapid changes in trade relations and tariffs globally. The report will be updated prior to delivery to reflect the latest status, including revised forecasts and quantified impact analysis. The report’s Recommendations and Conclusions sections will be updated to give strategies for entities dealing with the fast-moving international environment.

The sharp hike in U.S. tariffs and the associated trade disputes in spring 2025 are notably impacting the aerospace and defense sector by raising costs for titanium, carbon fiber composites, and avionics materials largely sourced from global suppliers. Defense contractors, locked into fixed-price government contracts, absorb these added costs, while commercial aerospace firms face airline pushback on higher aircraft prices. Delays in component shipments due to customs bottlenecks further disrupt tight production schedules for jets and satellites. The industry is responding by stockpiling critical materials, seeking waivers for defense-related imports, and collaborating with allied nations to diversify supply chain.

Industrial explosives are specialized chemical substances used mainly for blasting and excavation in sectors like mining, construction, and quarrying. They are engineered to deliver controlled energy releases to break rock, demolish structures, or trigger other industrial operations.

The primary categories of industrial explosives include high explosives and blasting agents. High explosives are chemical compounds or mixtures that detonate by generating a supersonic shock wave, resulting in an immediate and powerful release of energy. Key types encompass commercial explosives, military-grade explosives, blasting agents, and propellants. These explosives come in various forms such as bulk explosives, packaged explosives, emulsions, and water gels. Distribution channels include direct sales, distributors, online platforms, and retail outlets. The main industries using these products are mining, construction, oil and gas, military and defense, and manufacturing.

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

The industrial explosives market consists of sales of emulsion explosives, slurry explosives, detonators, dynamite, and pentolite. 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 and 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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