Smokeless Rifle Powder Market Report 2026

The smokeless rifle powder market size has grown strongly in recent years. It will grow from $1.18 billion in 2025 to $1.24 billion in 2026 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.1%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to increasing replacement of black powder with smokeless formulations to achieve higher ballistic efficiency, development of flake powder enabling consistent ignition for various rifle calibers, adoption of progressive-burning powder improving velocity control and pressure management, rising military modernization programs driving demand for high-energy rifle propellants, expansion of civilian hunting and sport shooting activities supporting broader powder consumption.

The smokeless rifle powder market size is expected to see strong growth in the next few years. It will grow to $1.52 billion in 2030 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.2%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to advancements in propellant chemistry enabling cleaner and more temperature-stable rifle powders, rising demand for precision shooting driving adoption of highly consistent progressive-burning powders, increasing defense procurement of enhanced-performance ammunition requiring high-energy propellants, growth of reloading communities boosting demand for customizable smokeless rifle powder options, innovation in environmentally compliant propellants reducing toxic residues and improving safety. Major trends in the forecast period include regulatory tightening on explosives and propellants, demand shift towards environmentally friendly formulations, consolidation and vertical integration in manufacturing, growth in civilian shooting sports and reloading, raw material supply constraints and price volatility.

The rising popularity of hunting is expected to drive the growth of the smokeless rifle powder market in the coming years. Hunting refers to the practice of pursuing, capturing, or killing wild animals, typically for food, sport, or population management. The increasing interest in hunting is driven by growing participation in outdoor recreation, support for wildlife conservation, cultural traditions, and the desire for sustainably sourced food. Smokeless rifle powders assist hunters by providing cleaner combustion, enhanced accuracy, and reliable performance, allowing them to achieve consistent and effective results in the field. For example, in November 2024, the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, a U.S.-based government agency, reported that in 2023, hunting, shooting, and trapping were the third-largest conventional outdoor activity nationwide, generating $14 billion in current-dollar value added. It was also the leading activity in Wyoming, with Texas ($1.7 billion), California ($705.3 million), and Florida ($676.9 million) contributing the most among states. Therefore, the increasing popularity of hunting is contributing to the expansion of the smokeless rifle powder market.

Leading companies operating in the smokeless rifle powder market are focusing on developing innovative solutions such as temperature-insensitive ball powder to provide consistent ballistic performance, improve shooting accuracy, and maintain stable pressure across a wide range of environmental conditions. Temperature-insensitive ball powder is a type of spherical propellant engineered to deliver uniform burn rates and pressure regardless of temperature changes, thereby enhancing shot consistency and reliability in various environments. For example, in January 2023, Hodgdon Powder Company, a U.S.-based manufacturing company, introduced Winchester StaBALL HD, a propellant designed for precision shooting in extremely hot or cold conditions. Its precise metering and copper fouling reduction additives help increase accuracy and velocity while allowing longer shooting sessions before cleaning is required. The powder ensures stable, high-performance shooting in extreme temperatures, making it well-suited for precision shooters and hunters seeking dependable and consistent results.

In November 2024, the Czech industrial technology company Czechoslovak Group (CSG) acquired The Kinetic Group for an undisclosed sum. This acquisition is intended to reinforce CSG’s position in the global defense and ammunition market by expanding its footprint in the U.S. and integrating leading small-caliber ammunition brands into its portfolio. The Kinetic Group is a U.S.-based manufacturer specializing in ammunition products, including smokeless gunpowder.

Major companies operating in the smokeless rifle powder market are Maxam Outdoors S.A, EURENCO FRANCE SAS, Rheinmetall Denel Munition (Pty) Ltd., Graf & Sons, Shooters World, Nitrochemie Wimmis AG, Hodgdon Powder Company, ELEY HAWK LIMITED, Natchez Shooters Supplies, Explosia a.s, Nobel Sport Italia, Alliant Powder, Australian Munitions, Nammo Vihtavuori Oy, Baschieri & Pellagri Spa, Cartuchos SAGA SA, Spectre Enterprises Inc., Prvi Partizan AD, LHS-Germany GmbH, Maine Ammo Company.

North America was the largest region in the smokeless rifle powder market in 2025. Asia-Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the forecast period. The regions covered in the smokeless rifle powder market report are Asia-Pacific, South East Asia, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, Africa.

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.

Tariffs on chemical intermediates, nitrocellulose precursors, and imported propellant components have raised input costs and disrupted established cross-border supply chains for the smokeless rifle powder market. Increased duties and import inspections are inflating production costs and causing supply delays, particularly affecting extruded and ball powder segments that rely on imported stabilizers and specialty chemicals, manufacturing hubs in Europe and Asia-Pacific are most impacted. Some regions and companies are responding by onshoring certain production steps and qualifying alternative suppliers, which can spur investment in local manufacturing capacity and accelerate development of cost-optimized or domestically sourced formulations.

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

Smokeless rifle powder is a modern propellant used mainly in rifles that produces minimal smoke upon ignition, unlike traditional black powder. It is generally made from nitrocellulose alone or combined with nitroglycerin, enabling more efficient and cleaner burning. Due to its better ballistic performance and cleaner combustion, smokeless powder has largely replaced black powder in contemporary ammunition.

The primary types of smokeless rifle powder include single base powder, double base powder, ball powder, and extruded powder. Single base powder consists mainly of nitrocellulose as its active component. These powders come in various formulations, such as stabilized smokeless powder, non-stabilized variants, and eco-friendly options. They are used in multiple applications, including hunting, sport shooting, military and law enforcement operations, and reloading, serving end users like individual shooters, commercial manufacturers, government and defense agencies, as well as retailers and distributors.

The countries covered in the smokeless rifle powder market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Taiwan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain.

The smokeless rifle powder market consists of sales of flake powder, progressive-burning powder, and high-energy 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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