Ammonium nitrate, used in Delhi blast, sold openly:The ₹13,000 Cr industry sees 7-fold import surge, know how it’s used in bomb-making who are major producers

Ammonium nitrate, a key ingredient used in the deadly explosion near the Delhi’s Red Fort metro station on 10 November 2025, has seen a sevenfold increase in imports. Fifteen people were killed and several critically injured in the terror attack, which came after police unearthed a huge storage of this chemical during searches in Faridabad a day before. Days later, the seized explosives sent to Srinagar for testing exploded inside the Nowgam police station, killing nine police personnel and injuring 32 others. So far, probes indicate the blast is tied to a terror group with footprints in Delhi-NCR, Madhya Pradesh and Jammu Kashmir. Given the risks if this chemical falls into the wrong hands, it is crucial to identify which industries produce ammonium nitrate and where it is legitimately used in civil applications. But, first, let’s understand what ammonium nitrate is? What is ammonium nitrate? Ammonium nitrate (NH4NO3) is a white substance used in the manufacturing of fertilizer and explosives.
Is sale of ammonium nitrate banned in India? Lt. Col Jassi Sodhi says, Ammonium nitrate is not banned in India; it can be legally purchased in the market as it is commonly used to produce fertilizer. However, it can be misused by wrongdoers, who may attempt to repurpose it for making improvised explosives. Sodhi calls for its restricted sale to curb its illegal use in bomb-making. The Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO), the nodal agency which regulates the safety of explosives in the country, states on its website that the manufacture, sale, storage, import, export, and transport of ammonium nitrate are strictly regulated under the Ammonium Nitrate Rules, 2012, framed under the Explosives Act, 1884. Can the chemical be imported in India? The ammonium nitrate industry is highly regulated. For the import of ammonium nitrate, or compound containing 45% of this chemical, is subject to import license. What’s the size of the ammonium nitrate market in India? According to the Global Information, Inc, a market research company, the Indian ammonium nitrate market is valued at approximately $1,506.5 million in 2025 and is expected to grow to $2,206.0 million by 2032, at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.6%. How much ammonium nitrate India imports? According to the latest data with the World Integrated Trade Solution, India imported 51.15 crore kg of ammonium nitrate in 2023. Which are the major producers of ammonium nitrate in India? Major ammonium nitrate manufacturing companies in India include: • Mahadhan Agritech Limited (subsidiary of Deepak Fertilisers)
• Gujarat Aksha Fertilizer company
• P K Chlorochem Pvt Ltd
• Trilok Chemicals Pvt Ltd. Which country is India’s largest source of ammonium nitrate imports? In 2023, Russia accounted for 94% of total India-bound ammonium nitrate imports. How is the chemical used in bomb-making? According to PESO, ammonium nitrate is not an explosive by itself. However, it is one of the key ingredients used for the manufacturing of explosives. Ammonium nitrate becomes explosive when it combines with other factors that cause it to detonate, such as crude oil, high temperature, etc.