Sweden’s SWEBAL Secures €3mn Investment to Begin Constructing TNT-manufacturing Factory

The Swedish company, SWEBAL today announced a €3mn strategic investment to begin construction of its factory to manufacture Trinitrotoluene (TNT), the explosive compound used in artillery shells and other munitions, in Nora, Sweden.

SWEBAL was co-founded by tech entrepreneur Joakim Sjöblom. The company is set to construct a large-scale manufacturing facility which aims to bolster allied defensive capabilities by centralising the European ammunition production supply chain.

The plant is targeting full-scale production by late 2027, running 24hrs per day, with 50 employees required for continuous production. Once operational, SWEBAL’s production facility will boost European-made supply of the key component for explosive munitions by 75%.

SWEBAL’s new plant will produce more than 4,000 metric tonnes of TNT per year, reducing NATO ammunition shortfall.

Currently, while Russia can unlock artillery shells at an annual rate equivalent to 50,000 tonnes of TNT, the rest of Europe is able to access only 6,000 tonnes of locally produced TNT annually - the rest coming from long-distance imports which causes delays and supply chain issues.

European defence initiatives fail to address this TNT shortage, while procurement processes suffer from slow lead times for essential materials. Because of this shortage, the price of TNT for new defence contracts has increased enormously since 2020 further highlighting the necessity of localized TNT production.

The U.S. is looking to shore up supply too, building its own major plant in Kentucky - due to finalise construction in 2028.