Ammunition manufacturers are working to secure supplies of chemicals and cotton as they prepare for a massive increase in demand for explosives and propellants.

For shells, two components are needed: gunpowder for launching the shells and explosives that detonate. Europe does not produce enough of either to meet its demand, informs Bloomberg. European governments have used their ammunition stocks to arm Ukraine.

However, a critical lack of gunpowder, trinitrotoluene (TNT), and rocket fuel is stalling these efforts. European governments, having depleted their arsenals for Ukraine, are now racing to rebuild and expand manufacturing capacity.