Shell Game: Inside The Worldwide TNT Shortage

The number of explosions last year was lower than in 2023, but the availability of explosives remains high. This is confirmed by the National Bomb Data Center (NBDC) in its annual report for 2024.

Shell Game: Inside The Worldwide TNT Shortage

As a large supplier of 155mm and 152mm artillery shells, Sarasota, Florida-based Global Ordnance requires tons of trinitrotoluene (TNT) for the explosives in its warheads and nitrocellulose to make the propellants that launch those shells. In addition, there is a tremendous need for TNT by commercial mining companies. However, the conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East have caused major shortages of both of these essential chemical compounds. …