{
  "id": 15743215,
  "title": "Chemical brother: Russia’s production of explosives and ammunition is heavily dependent on Chinese chemicals",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/20/chemical-brother-russias-production-of-explosives-and-ammunition-is",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-20T12:28:57.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Insider",
    "slug": "the-insider",
    "url": "https://theins.press/en/inv/298502"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Russia's chemical industry remains heavily reliant on imports from China, particularly in the defense sector where ammunition production depends on imported auxiliary components. In the first quarter of 2025, Russia imported over $1 billion worth of chemical products, or 347,000 metric tons, with China accounting for 87% of those imports. The chemicals imported have clear military uses, including components for explosives and stabilizers.\n\nOne essential chemical for explosives production is dioctyl sebacate, which is produced using imported sebacic acid. In 2025, the Roshal Plasticizer Plant purchased sebacic acid from the Chinese supplier Farmasino Co., Ltd. Polyisobutylene, another binder used in explosives, is also imported from China. The Azot-Vzryv group purchased it from Nanjing E-Strong Technical Co., Ltd., through a Kazakh intermediary.\n\nAcetic acid, required for synthesizing RDX, is primarily produced in Russia's Nevinnomyssk. However, a significant portion is sourced from China, accounting for about 20% of deliveries. Diphenylamine, used as a stabilizer to prevent nitrocellulose propellant from degrading, is also supplied by China. Chinese chemical producer Jiangsu Feiya Chemical Industry has been one of the companies supplying the substance to Russia.\n\nOther imported chemicals important to Russia's military industry include raw materials and additives for polymers, synthetic fibers, plastics, and rubber. These chemicals are generally difficult to manufacture domestically, making Russia dependent on foreign suppliers, especially China, which provides critical chemicals such as plasticizers, antioxidants, flame retardants, and other polymer additives.",
  "summary": "Russia’s explosives production relies heavily on imported chemicals from China. The Insider identified the key reagents used by Russia’s defense industry, the foreign companies supplying them, and the chemicals most critical to explosives production — including plasticizers, binders, acids, and stabilizers.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}