North America & Europe Research Department Explosive Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Application (Military {Cast PBX, Pyrotechnics}, Civilian {Fireworks, Demolition Blocks}), By Region, And Segment Forecasts, 2023 - 2030

Report Overview

The North America & Europe research department explosive market size was valued at USD 2.07 billion in 2022 and is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 2.9% from 2023 to 2030. Research department explosive (RDX) is utilized in numerous military and civil applications such as pyrotechnics and cast PBX charges among others. The significant prevalence of mineral extraction activities in developed regions is estimated to create scope for business growth during the forecast period. Research department explosives can be used alone as a standalone base charge for a wide range of detonators or can also be mixed with oils or waxes to make military ammunition and other related products.

RDX is increasingly utilized in the mining and construction industries. The mining industry requires this high-performance product for exploration and rock excavation activities. Additionally, themarket is driven by increasing defense expenditure along with rising mining activities across these regions. The penetration of RDXin the construction sector is also expected to increase significantly over the forecast period, owing to rising infrastructure and rock excavation activities, especially in developing countries in the region including Mexico, Poland, Portugal, and Czech Republic.

The U.S., a major market in North America, is characterized by robust technological advancements in RDX manufacturing methods. Regulatory policies framed by EPA, FDA, and other agencies are likely to act as a restraint for growth. However, the impact of this factor is expected to be mitigated by alternative production processes, promoting sustainability throughout the entire life cycle of the product.

Hexamine, ammonium nitrate, nitric acid, acetic acid, acetic anhydride, and paraformaldehyde are some major raw materials used for manufacturing RDX. The raw materials are provided by key suppliers such as Rock Hard Petrochemical Industries; Newton Engineering and Chemicals; Seidler Chemical Company; Simagchem Corporation; RCU Chemical; IOL Chemicals; Shanghai Youyuan Biochem Co. Ltd.; and Celanese Corporation.

RDX, also known as hexogen, can be used with waxes or oils to make military ammunition. The production process of hexogen involves multiple stages encompassing raw materials storage, feeding, nitration, decomposition, filtration, and transport. Manufacturers are heavily invested in R&D activities to develop innovative products to aid defense forces and cater to ever-increasing product demand.

RDX in a military application is often used with explosives such as TNT to make cyclotrons that produce bursting charges for aerial bombs, mines, and torpedoes. It can also be used as a base charge for detonators in military applications. In the civilian application, RDX has gained prominence in heating fuel, fireworks, occasionally as a rodenticide, and in the demolition of blocks.

The North America & Europe RDX market has witnessed rapid expansion owing to the rising demand for advanced rockets and missiles. This is expected to augment the demand for propellants in the market. The cost reduction, improved reliability, and performance as well as the relatively more environment-friendly qualities have led to the development of a new generation of propellants. Moreover, propellants used in driving turbines, operating the rocket valve, pump fluids as well as ammunition in military applications are expected to augment their demand in the market.

Application Insights

The civilian application of hexogen is expected to grow at a CAGR of 2.8% in terms of revenue by 2030 in North America with the growing demand for demolition blocks, fireworks, and civil pyrotechnic applications. Rising supply and demand for various fireworks such as powder-actuated nail guns, recreational fireworks, and others have significantly triggered demand in civil applications.

The military emerged as the largest application in this industry with a volume share of over 80% in 2022. Rapidly increasing defense expenditure across the U.S. has significantly boosted industry growth. RDX cyclonite is widely utilized in numerous military applications, such as bombs, ammunition for all calibers, and missile warheads.

Cast PBX dominated the military application segment in terms of volume in 2022. This new generation of explosives possesses exceptional inherent characteristics, which translate to numerous benefits for end-users. These benefits include excellent mechanical properties, long service life, no risk of cracks or exudation, and safe storage, transport, & handling. Additionally, cast PBX inhibits high-shattering capability as a brisant. It is classified as aluminized composition and as an explosive of spatial effects. This classification makes PBX ideal for several key military applications such as its use in missiles, advanced underwater weapons, and air bombs. These factors are expected to prove conducive to industry growth over the forecast period.

Regional Insights

The North America research department explosive market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 2.8% in terms of revenue by 2030. Favorable demographic trends in North America such as the growing population is expected to lead to the construction of more roads and bridges, which in turn will fuel the demand for high-performance explosives, such as RDX and TNT in the construction sector. Moreover, capacity addition by airports and railways is also expected to drive the demand for RDX over the forecast period.

The North America region is a major consumer of research department explosive owing to high demand in the military, mining, and construction sectors. The revival of the U.S. construction industry is a significant driving factor for the market. The activities in the non-residential construction sector are expected to increase in the forecast period, as a result of significant investment in retail outlet and logistic warehouse constructions.

Europe held a significant market share in terms of revenue in 2022. Mining is a significant economic activity for key European countries including Germany and Russia. The major mining resources of Germany include copper, natural gas, nickel, coal, potash, lignite, iron ore, and uranium. Globally, Germany is one of the major producers of lignite, refined selenium, kaolin, sulfur, potash, refined copper, and crude steel. Increasing extraction activities of these ores are boosting thedemand for RDX.

Increasing extraction of various minerals for various commercial and industrial activities in Europe is expected to augment the demand for explosives over the forecast period. The rapidly expanding mining industry coupled with increasing military and defense expenditures continues to drive business growth across the region.

However, Germany depends on imports of metal ores and heavily invests in reprocessing metallic scrap and waste materials. The growing shift toward recycling, sustainability, and the dwindling magnitude of natural resources are expected to hamper the RDX market growth.

Key Companies & Market Share Insights

The prominent players in the North America & Europe research department explosive industry are Eurenco; Chemring Nobel; BAE Systems; Nitro Chem S.A.; and Austin Powder Company among others. The widening product portfolio is a key strategy adopted by the RDX industry players to strengthen their position.

The North America & Europe research department explosive market is driven by various strategic initiatives being adopted by the key industry participants, such as the expansion of product portfolio, new product development as well as mergers & acquisitions with established players. Companies are spending extensively on R&D activities to develop innovative products to aid defense forces and cater to the ever-increasing demand.

Companies are vying to increase their market share by offering varied product offerings to customers, with a variety of grades and application areas. In addition, since the military is a major end-user, exclusive supply agreements with concerned defense establishments remains a major competitive factor for the companies present in the market. Some prominent players in the North America & Europe research department explosive market include:

• Eurenco

• Chemring Nobel

• Prva Iskra- Namenska a.d.

• BAE Systems

• Nitro Chem S.A.

• Austin Powder Company

• EPC Groupe

• LSB Industries Inc.

• Ensign Bickford Company

• Dyno Nobel

North America & Europe Research Department Explosive Market Report Scope

North America & Europe Research Department Explosive Market Segmentation

This report forecasts volume & revenue growth at regional & country levels and provides an analysis of the latest industry trends in each of the sub-segments from 2018 to 2030. For the purpose of this study, Grand View Research has segmented the North America & Europe research department explosive market report based on application, and region:

• Application Outlook (Volume, Kilotons; Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2030)

  • Military

    • Melt Cast & Pressed Explosives

    • Cast PBX

    • Pyrotechnics

    • Others

  • Civilian

    • Fireworks

    • Demolition Blocks

    • Others

• Regional Outlook (Volume, Kilotons; Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2030)

  • North America

    • U.S.

    • Canada

  • Europe

    • Germany

    • France

    • U.K.

    • Italy

    • Turkey

    • Spain

    • Austria

    • Russia

    • Bulgaria

    • Ukraine

    • Poland

    • Slovakia

    • Czech Republic