Gear And Accessories
US Ammunition Market Sees Rising Prices and Propellant Shortages
Training ammunition prices climbing, while global shortages of nitrocellulose impact production.
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✍️By ZRIntel Editorial Team📍United States (General)
The U.S. ammunition market is experiencing notable shifts, with rising prices for common calibers and ongoing challenges in raw material supply chains. A significant concern for civilian shooters is the increasing cost of training ammunition, particularly for 9mm. Prices for 9mm training rounds, which previously ranged from 18 to 22 cents per round, are now pushing 28 to 35 cents per round as of mid-2025. Quality defensive loads are also seeing elevated prices, ranging from 80 cents to $1.25 per round or higher. This trend is attributed to various factors, including persistent demand and supply chain vulnerabilities. A major underlying issue impacting ammunition production is a global shortage of explosives, particularly nitrocellulose, a key component in propellant charges. Global Ordnance, a major U.S. ammunition manufacturer, has disclosed significant limitations in its production capacity due to this shortage. While the company imported TNT from Ukraine's RPE Zorya in previous years, the conflict has disrupted this supply. The cost of TNT has quadrupled since 2020, with the U.S. government now purchasing it at approximately $40 per kilogram. However, the most critical bottleneck is nitrocellulose, with Global Ordnance currently importing about 1 million kilograms to the U.S. for gunpowder production. Western companies are actively seeking alternative technologies, such as BAE Systems' new method for synthesizing explosives without nitrocellulose or nitroglycerin, to mitigate these supply issues.