Almost from the outset of the conflict in Ukraine in 2022, the United States began to feel the pinch of a dwindling supply of TNT — a critical ingredient for munitions and demolition work. The New York Times reported on the issue after speaking with industry officials directly involved in explosives production.

Before the war, Washington had relied heavily on foreign suppliers. Large volumes of TNT came from China, Russia, Ukraine, and Poland, where costs were significantly lower than those charged by other producers. Additional stocks were obtained through the dismantling and recycling of outdated U.S. weapons. That fallback option has largely run dry since the Pentagon decided in 2022 to keep much of its older arsenal intact.

With the war disrupting global supply chains, the situation grew more complicated. Poland, which had become the Pentagon’s sole official supplier, is now channeling most of its TNT to support the Ukrainian armed forces. At the same time, Russia and China cut off their exports to the United States, effectively shutting down two of the most important external sources.

In response, Washington has approved a plan to build a new TNT production facility in Kentucky. The project, backed by $435 million in federal funding, is scheduled to go online in 2028. Until then, the U.S. defense industry is searching for workarounds. Several manufacturers have begun producing PETN (pentaerythritol tetranitrate), an alternative explosive that can substitute for TNT in certain applications.

The New York Times concluded that the Pentagon has likely secured new supplies of TNT from undisclosed sources. Defense officials, however, declined to identify where those shipments are coming from.