Synthesia to invest up to CZK 1 billion to boost gunpowder material production

Czech chemical company Synthesia plans to increase its production of nitrocellulose, a key material needed for the production of gunpowder, by 16 percent from the 6,000 tonnes a year it currently produces, Czech daily e15 reports. The company has already started investing in increasing its production capacity and the process should be complete by the end of 2026. Since the outbreak of the war in Ukraine, the company has been unable to meet the demand of arms makers.

According to Czech Defence and Security Industry Association head Jiří Hynek, there are only three major producers of nitrocellulose in Europe, in France, Serbia and Czechia respectively, with Synthesia being the largest in terms of nitrocellulose production for the arms industry.