Black Powder Market Report 2025

The black powder market size has grown strongly in recent years. It will grow from $0.95 billion in 2024 to $1.0 billion in 2025 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6%. The growth during the historic period can be attributed to rising demand from the fireworks industry, growing interest in antique firearms, increasing popularity of hunting, expanded military applications, and heightened needs in infrastructure development and mining blasting.

The black powder market size is expected to see strong growth in the next few years. It will grow to $1.25 billion in 2029 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.6%. The growth anticipated in the forecast period is driven by an increasing emphasis on sustainability and safety regulations, technological innovations in production processes, growing demand for fireworks in emerging markets, greater adoption of automated manufacturing systems, and a stronger focus on eco-friendly formulations. Key trends include advancements in environmentally friendly black powder formulations, integration of automation and digital monitoring, improvements in manufacturing consistency and safety, developments in analytical testing for performance and composition, and progress in green and biodegradable powder alternatives.

The increasing interest in hunting activities is expected to drive the growth of the black powder market in the coming years. Hunting involves pursuing and capturing or killing wild animals using bows or firearms, often for food, sport, or population control. This activity is gaining popularity due to a rising enthusiasm for outdoor recreation, as more individuals seek nature-based pastimes that provide adventure, self-reliance, and an escape from urban life. Black powder supports hunting by powering traditional firearms, enabling hunters to effectively take down game while maintaining historical techniques. For example, in May 2023, the Outdoor Industry Association (OIA), a US-based non-profit organization, reported that approximately 14.7 million Americans participated in hunting at least once in 2022 using either a bow or a firearm, marking a 1% increase in participation compared to 2021. As a result, the growing interest in hunting activities is fueling the black powder market.

Key companies in the black powder market are emphasizing technological advancements such as modern manufacturing processes to improve product consistency, enhance safety during production, and fulfill the specialized needs of both defense and commercial sectors. Modern manufacturing processes involve advanced, technology-driven methods that focus on automation, precision, efficiency, and flexibility in production. For instance, in April 2024, Estes Energetics, a US-based black powder and chemical manufacturer, opened a new manufacturing facility at Camp Minden, Louisiana, aimed at strengthening the US defense industrial base with adaptable production capabilities. This facility is highly versatile, enabling the production of a wide variety of critical defense-grade chemicals, including black powder, through upgraded infrastructure and a strategic location that boosts supply chain resilience and national security.

In January 2022, Estes Energetics, a US defense and industrial company, acquired GOEX Black Powder for an undisclosed sum. This acquisition allows Estes Energetics to uphold the tradition of producing high-quality American-made black powder, introduce innovations and comprehensive engineering capabilities to enhance safety and quality, and increase production to meet pent-up demand. GOEX Black Powder is a US-based manufacturer known for producing premium black powder used in competitive shooting, historical reenactments, and military applications.

Major players in the black powder market are DuPont de Nemours Inc, Austin Powder Company, EURENCO SA, Titanobel, Graf & Sons, Apache Nitrogen Products Inc, EPC UNITED KINGDOM LIMITED, Hodgdon Powder Company Inc., WANO Black Powder GmbH, Explosia a.s, Nobel Sport Italia Srl, Australian Munitions, Baschieri & Pellagri Spa, Schuetzen Powder Energetics, BUFFALO ARMS INC, Powder Inc., CAMEO Chemicals, GOEX (Estes Energetics), Schuetzen Powder Energetics Inc., Narendra Explosives Limited.

Asia-Pacific was the largest region in the black powder market in 2024. Asia-Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the forecast period. The regions covered in black powder report are Asia-Pacific, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East and Africa. The countries covered in the black powder 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.

Black powder, commonly known as gunpowder, is a low-explosive substance made from potassium nitrate (saltpeter), charcoal, and sulfur. Its typical composition by weight is about 75% potassium nitrate, 15% charcoal, and 10% sulfur. Due to its reliable ignition and simple formula, black powder has played a fundamental role in the development of firearms and explosives throughout history.

The primary types of black powder include musket powder, cannon powder, sporting powder, pyrotechnic powder, and blank powder. Musket powder is a specific formulation designed for use in muzzle-loading muskets, offering dependable ignition and consistent performance in historical firearms. These powders are distributed through specialty and sporting goods stores. They are applied in various fields such as military, civilian, industrial, aerospace, and entertainment, catering to end users like historical reenactors and participants in black powder competitions.

The black powder market research report is one of a series of new reports that provides black powder market statistics, including the black powder industry's global market size, regional shares, competitors with an black powder market share, detailed black powder market segments, market trends and opportunities, and any further data you may need to thrive in the black powder industry. This black powder 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 black powder market consists of sales of granulated black powder, meal powder, serpentine powder, corning powder, and blasting grade powder. 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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