Procurement Market Intelligence Report
Explosives
Sourcing Guide & Market Intelligence
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Explosives Global Overview
Definition
Summary
Explosives are reactive substances that contain a significant amount of potential energy that creates a destructive force when it is released. Common civilian applications for explosives include mining, demolition, land preparation and oil and gas extraction. Key buyers of explosives include construction firms, demolition contractors, mining firms, and oilfield service firms.
This Report Includes:
- Blasting Agents
- Commercial Explosives
Not in this Report:
- Military-Grade Explosives
- Blasting Services
Global Explosives Procurement Trends
Discover the top international trends affecting procurement in the global Explosives market.
Warning Trends
Tariffs to negatively impact chemicals industry
- The Trump Administration’s reciprocal tariffs, which apply general tariff rate increases to most leading US trade partners in August, and raised tariffs on specific chemicals like branded and patented pharmaceutical products to 100.0% in October. These changes will significantly increase the tariff rate on leading chemical exporting countries, including the European Union (15.0%), Canada (35.0%), China (54.0%), Singapore (10.0%), and India (25.0%).
- Certain chemicals, including polyethylene, polypropylene, polyethylene terephthalate, phenols, ethylene, and titanium dioxide, are exempt from tariffs. However, according to Chemical Processing Magazine, tariffs, in general, are expected to add 2.0% to 5.0% to overall expenses for US chemical producers due to higher steel and equipment costs, as well as rising supply chain risk.
- China is a major supplier of chemicals to the United States, estimated to account for around 11.0% of total imports, according to the US Chamber of Commerce. Most of these imports are intermediate products used as inputs in domestic chemical production, meaning the tariffs will still impact chemical suppliers with US manufacturing operations.
- According to the Society of Chemical Manufacturers and Affiliates (SOCMA), the higher US tariff rate on imports of chemicals will disrupt supply chains and raise operating costs for domestic chemical manufacturers. Increased input costs are typically passed on to buyers in the form of higher prices.
- The United States is the most important export market for Germany’s chemical industry, and major suppliers like BASF are expected to be negatively impacted by the 15.0% tariff on the European Union member countries. However, chemicals covered under the United States-Mexico-Canada (USMCA) agreement, meaning those produced wholly in Mexico or Canada, will be exempt from tariffs on Canadian and Mexican imports, providing some relief for the highly integrated North American chemicals trade.
Global Explosives Market - Suppliers by Region
| Country/Region | Number of Suppliers |
|---|---|
| #1 China | 235 |
| #2 Europe | 140 |
| #3 India | 115 |
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2
Geography Drilldown - US
Average Cost of Explosives
United States
2026 Market Pricing$10.00 to $X,XXX.XX
per 100 poundsAverage Price
Prices in the Explosives market range from $10.00 to $X,XXX.XX, depending on Type, Specifications, Bulk or Packaged and Specialization. For example, lower prices are associated with Ammonium nitrate fuel oil, whereas higher prices are associated with C-4 and RDX.
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Explosives Category Price Trends
Pricing trends are indicated by the compound annual growth rate (CAGR) during a set period of time. For the Explosives market, prices in the US have grown 1.1% from 2022 to 2025. Subscribers can access price trend forecasts, price driver projections and forward-looking cost structure data. Learn more
United States (2022-2025)
United States (2025-2028)
Compound Annual Growth Rate
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Price trend forecasts are available to subscribers, along with price driver projections and forward-looking cost structure data.
Cost Analysis - Total Cost of Ownership for Explosives
Total cost of ownership is High in the Explosives market. The average cost of ownership differs depending on the contract but generally includes costs negotiated before the contract begins, costs billed during the contract period and unforeseen costs.
Negotiated Before
Other Fees
Set Up Fees
Billed During
Labor
Storage
Buyer Power in Procurement Negotiations
In 2026, buyer power amounts to -1.2 in the United States. Buyer power is most positively impacted by Recent Developments. It is most negatively impacted by Recent Price Volatility. Subscribers can access details on eight other factors that impact buyer power. Learn more
United States
Buyer power forecasts: your glimpse into the future
Develop strategies for the upcoming year and identify unforeseen opportunities for buying now
- Actionable "Buy Now" and "Buy Later" insights
- Near-real-time updates to current and forecast Buyer Power Scores
- Methodology and weightings for Buyer Power Score Components
Supply Chain Risk
The average level of supply chain risk is assessed as Medium, which has a negative impact on buyer power. The level of supply chain risk is affected by industry volatility, barriers to entry, competition, import penetration, regulation and industry financial risk. Buyers in this market can mitigate procurement and supply chain management risks by monitoring risk levels for individual first and second tier suppliers:
1st
Tier Suppliers
- Chemical Product Manufacturers
- Industrial Machinery & Equipment Wholesalers
- Petrochemical Manufacturers
2nd
Tier Suppliers
- Inorganic Chemical Manufacturers
- Circuit Board & Electronic Component Manufacturers
- Petroleum Refiners
Biggest Explosives Suppliers in the US by Revenue
The largest Explosives vendors by revenue in the US are Detotec North America Inc., Maxamcorp Holding Sl and Austin Powder Company. Subscribers can sort and filter by market share concentration, profit level and other factors. Learn more
| Supplier | Operational Size | Headquarters | Number of Employees | Market Share (%) | Market Share Performance (3yr trend) | Total Revenue ($ million) | Profit Level (%) | Risk Level |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maxamcorp Holding Sl | Global | Madrid, ES | 1,001-10,000 | 15-20 | ||||
| Orica Limited | Global | Melbourne, AU | >10,001 | 25+ | ||||
| Dyno Nobel Limited | Global | VICTORIA, AU | 1,001-10,000 | 25+ | ||||
| Hunting PLC | Global | London, UK | 1,001-10,000 | 5-10 | ||||
| Detotec North America Inc. | National | Sterling, CT | 25-50 | < 5 | ||||
| Austin Powder Company | Global | Cleveland, OH | 1,001-10,000 | < 5 | ||||
| Geodynamics | Global | Houston, TX | 1,001-10,000 | < 5 | ||||
| Accurate Energetic Systems LLC | National | Mc Ewen, TN | 51-100 | < 5 | ||||
| Tripwire Operations Group LLC. | International | Gettysburg, PA | 51-100 | < 5 | ||||
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Profit Analysis
The average profit margin across vendors in the Explosives market is 13.8% and steady. Profit levels shift depending on suppliers' spend on wages, purchases and overhead. The highest cost component for vendors is Purchases. The cost trend for this component is falling, when considering movement between 2025 and 2026. To understand cost forecasts for 2027 and uncover the implications on profit, start your subscription. Learn more
Vendor & Supply Chain Analysis
Average vendor risk is low, benefitting buyers. Vendors operate with high profit margins and have little risk of bankruptcy.
Market share concentration is high, with four vendors dominating the market. This is primarily due to the extremely high level of regulation in the industry, which creates a high barrier to entry for new companies.
There is moderate supply chain risk associated with explosives, since suppliers are heavily dependent on key upstream inputs like chemicals. Furthermore, the suspension of ammonium nitrate production across major plants in Europe hints at potential vulnerabilities in the supply chain.
The United States is a net importer of prepared explosives, meaning it imports more than it exports. US buyers seeking to import prepared explosives should expect higher buying lead times and should asses quality standards.
Supplier Information
Maxamcorp Holding Sl
Maxamcorp Holding Sl is a private company operating globally in the mining and manufacturing sectors. The company's offerings include explosives, igniters and mine blasting services. Founded in 2006, the company is currently headquartered in Madrid, Spain with an estimated 5500 employees. Subscribe to learn more
Dyno Nobel Limited
Dyno Nobel Limited is a public company operating globally in the mining and manufacturing sectors. The company's offerings include explosives, igniters and mine blasting services. Founded in 1919, the company is currently headquartered in VICTORIA, Australia with an estimated 5500 employees. Subscribe to learn more
Orica Limited
Orica Limited is a public company operating globally in the mining and manufacturing sectors. The company's offerings include explosives, igniters and mine blasting services. Founded in 1874, the company is currently headquartered in Melbourne, Australia with an estimated employee count of over 10,000. Subscribe to learn more
Hunting PLC
Hunting PLC is a public company operating globally in the mining and manufacturing sectors. The company's offerings include explosives, igniters, drilling tools and octg supply chain services. Founded in 1970, the company is currently headquartered in London, United Kingdom with an estimated 5500 employees.... Subscribe to learn more
Accurate Energetic Systems LLC
Accurate Energetic Systems LLC is a private company operating nationally in the manufacturing sector. The company's offerings include explosives. Founded in 1980, the company is currently headquartered in Mc Ewen, Tennessee, United States of America with an estimated 75 employees. Subscribe to learn more
Austin Powder Company
Austin Powder Company is a private company operating globally in the manufacturing sector. The company's offerings include explosives and igniters. Founded in 1833, the company is currently headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, United States of America with an estimated 5500 employees. Subscribe to learn more
Detotec North America Inc.
Detotec North America Inc. is a private company operating nationally in the manufacturing sector. The company's offerings include explosives and igniters. Founded in 1988, the company is currently headquartered in Sterling, Connecticut, United States of America with an estimated 37 employees. Subscribe to learn more
Geodynamics
Geodynamics is a private company operating globally in the manufacturing sector. The company's offerings include explosives. Founded in 1942, the company is currently headquartered in Houston, Texas, United States of America with an estimated 5500 employees. Subscribe to learn more
Tripwire Operations Group LLC.
Tripwire Operations Group LLC. is a private company operating internationally in the manufacturing sector. The company's offerings include explosives. Founded in 2006, the company is currently headquartered in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, United States of America with an estimated 75 employees. Subscribe to learn more
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Procurement Management KPIs for the Explosives Market
Managing vendor performance throughout the contract period is easier when tracking specific key performance indicators (KPIs). For example, buyers should monitor Average Order Value and Customer Satisfaction (CSAT). Buyers may experience better performance throughout their contracts if they establish service level agreements (SLAs) based on Emergency Response and other factors.
| KPI | Level of Importance (1-5) | Measurements | Key Considerations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Order Value |
|
Average order value Number of orders |
The average order value represents the revenue generated from the average order. Buyers should consider the average order value as a measure of the vendor's ability to offer economies of scale. Higher average order values may indicate that the vendor is able to offer discounts or better pricing for larger orders. |
| Customer Satisfaction (CSAT) |
|
Number of positive customer responses Number of customer responses |
Customer satisfaction represents customers’ overall satisfaction with a company. High levels of customer satisfaction can be an indicator of strong vendor relationships. Buyers should consider this KPI as a measure of trust and collaboration between the vendor and buyers. |
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Questions to Ask During Procurement Negotiations
How can I gain leverage during negotiations?
Safety
How often do you test the consistency and reliability of your explosives?
What accidents have some of your previous buyers faced, either directly or indirectly, due to your product?
Reliability
Have you ever sold a faulty product to a customer?
Have your products ever caused financial loss for a client, such as collapsing mine shafts, destructive fire or greater or less damage to the target than anticipated?
Inventory Control
Have there ever been delays in supplying explosives to your clients, and what were the reasons for these delays?
Have you ever had to stop production, resulting in a client not being able to receive their explosive materials? Why?
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Explosives RFP Guidelines
What should my RFP include?
Organizational Overview
Buyers should provide a description of their organization, including the size of their business, the department it falls under (if government) and any departments operating under them.
Buyers should provide a brief explanation of the product(s) being requested.
Statement Of Need
Buyers should provide a list of the explosives needed, including the type of explosive and quantity.
Buyers should list any certifications and qualifications that suppliers must have to be considered for the bid.
Project Budget
Buyers should list their budget for the requested materials.
If requesting a long-term contract, buyers should provide budget figures for the entirety of the contract, as well as per year for the length of the contract.
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Our Reports include:
- Opportunity assessment
- Market dynamics
- Recent developments
- Positive and warning trends
- Buyer power levers
- Price environment and market pricing
- Geographic wage rates
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- Total cost of ownership
- Cost structure benchmarks and analysis
- Supply chain and vendors
- Global supplier breakdown
- Market share concentration
- Regulation and business requirements
- Vendor management and KPIs
- Sourcing strategy guidance
