Rifle Powder Market Report 2025

The rifle powder market size has grown strongly in recent years. It will grow from $1.13 billion in 2024 to $1.2 billion in 2025 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6%. The growth during the historic period can be linked to the expanding hunting culture, rising civilian firearm ownership, increased ammunition requirements from law enforcement, the growth of recreational shooting activities, and a higher demand for reloading supplies.

The rifle powder market size is expected to see strong growth in the next few years. It will grow to $1.49 billion in 2029 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.7%. The growth expected in the forecast period is driven by military modernization efforts, increased involvement in shooting sports, rising demand for environmentally friendly propellants, expanded e-commerce distribution channels, and growing defense budgets. Key trends include advancements in clean-burning powder formulas, the adoption of automation in manufacturing, technology-led performance improvements, development of temperature-stable powders, and innovations in eco-friendly propellant technologies.

The rising involvement in shooting sports is anticipated to drive the growth of the rifle powder market moving forward. Shooting sports encompass recreational or competitive activities that involve firearms like rifles, where accuracy, precision, and speed are crucial for performance. This growth in participation is fueled by increased media exposure, the expansion of safety and training initiatives, and the rising engagement of youth and women in the sport. Rifle powder serves as the main propellant in rifle cartridges, playing a key role in ensuring accuracy, consistency, and overall performance. The appropriate powder delivers an optimal burn rate and pressure, which directly affect bullet stability and precision. For example, in January 2024, the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF), a U.S.-based trade association, reported that 17% of adults involved in shooting sports in 2022 were new participants, indicating growing interest and engagement. Consequently, the expanding participation in shooting sports is fostering growth in the rifle powder market.

Key players in the smokeless rifle powder market are prioritizing the development of innovative products like precision shooting smokeless rifle powder. These powders are designed to provide shooters with dependable performance across various environmental conditions, enhance accuracy, and ensure consistent results for both hunting and competitive shooting. Precision shooting smokeless rifle powder is a specialized formulation that delivers stable, clean, and consistent performance for applications requiring high accuracy. It is engineered to maintain uniform burn rates and pressure, which are essential for tight shot groupings and predictable ballistics. For instance, in August 2022, Alliant Powder, a U.S.-based company, introduced Reloder TS 15.5, a smokeless rifle powder tailored for precision shooting and reloading. This advanced powder incorporates innovative formulation technology, optimized grain shape, and precise burn rates, resulting in reliable ignition, improved shot-to-shot consistency, and enhanced accuracy for both competitive shooters and hunting enthusiasts. Reloder TS 15.5 is highly versatile and suitable for a broad array of rifle calibers and shooting disciplines.

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

Major players in the rifle powder market are Thales Australia Limited, Companhia Brasileira de Cartuchos, Eurenco France SAS, Fiocchi Munizioni S.p.A., Rheinmetall Denel Munition (Pty) Ltd., Shooters World LLC, Nitrochemie Wimmis AG, Hodgdon Powder Company Inc., Eley Hawk Limited, Explosia a.s, Nobel Sport Italia S.R.L., Alliant Powder Company, Nammo Vihtavuori Oy, Baschieri & Pellagri Spa, Cheddite Italy S.R.L., Narendra Explosives Limited, Prvi Partizan Emo AD, Pioneer Powder Inc., Cartuchos Saga SA, Poudrerie d'Aubonne S.A.

North America was the largest region in the rifle powder market in 2024. The regions covered in rifle powder report are Asia-Pacific, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East and Africa. The countries covered in the rifle 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 accelerated imposition of U.S. tariffs and the emerging trade conflicts in spring 2025 are significantly influencing the agriculture sector by increasing input costs for seeds, fertilizers, and machinery parts sourced from abroad. Tariffs on imported agrochemicals and farm equipment have raised production expenses for growers, while retaliatory measures from key trading partners have reduced export opportunities for U.S. crops such as corn, wheat, and dairy products. As a result, many farmers are experiencing shrinking profit margins and heightened financial stress. In response, agricultural producers are diversifying crop portfolios, adopting precision farming technologies to reduce input waste, and advocating for government subsidies and market access relief.

Rifle powder is a smokeless propellant mainly made of nitrocellulose combined with additives that control its burn rate and temperature, specifically designed for rifle cartridges. It provides consistent ignition and bullet velocity by managing combustion efficiency and energy release. Different burn rates are available to suit various calibers and barrel lengths.

The primary types of rifle powder include single base, double base, ball powder, and flake powder. Single-base powders consist mainly of nitrocellulose and deliver stable performance with controlled burn rates across diverse rifle uses. These powders come in multiple grades such as competitive, standard, and military. Packaging options range from bulk and boxed to bottled and custom formats. Rifle powders are used in applications like target shooting, hunting, competitive shooting, and reloading, serving end users including individual consumers, military and defense forces, law enforcement, and the outdoor sports sector.

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

The rifle powder market consists of sales of small rifle powder, medium rifle powder, and heavy rifle 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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