The Finnish Ministry of Defense (MoD) has signed a letter of intent with explosives manufacturer Oy Forcit Ab to procure trinitrotoluene (TNT) worth €255 million to feed the increased demand for bombs, missiles and other explosive charges.
Defense Minister Antti Häkkänen announced on January 31, that Oy Forcit Ab will build a new factory in Pori to produce the TNT.
The project, valued at over €200 million, will cover the need of the Finnish Defence Forces for TNT explosives in 2028–2037 timeframe. This follows a government assessment launched in early 2024 to evaluate TNT availability through either imports or domestic production.
The new facility is also expected to help mitigate the ongoing TNT shortage affecting ammunition production across Europe.
The project has gained backing from Finnish and international stakeholders, including the state-owned investment firm Tesi, which is considering funding the plant. Discussions have taken place with representatives from the United States and Europe regarding the plant’s role in boosting ammunition production.
Along with a TNT plant in Poland, the new facility in Finland will be one of only two such production sites within the European Union. Häkkänen emphasized that the investment will contribute to Finland’s long-term ability to support Ukraine while also creating new jobs.
The Ministry of Defense has authorized the Finnish Defence Forces to proceed with the procurement process, and Forcit will make its final investment decision in the next phase of the project.
TNT is a key component in bombs, missiles, and other explosive charges.
Its demand has risen significantly due to the ongoing war in Ukraine, increasing pressure on European defense supply chains.