European Defence Compromised by TNT Exports to Gaza Conflict
A Polish parliamentarian has made startling claims that Europe's ability to defend itself is being undermined because the continent's sole TNT supplier is sending most of its production to the United States, where it's allegedly used in bombs supplied to Israel for Gaza operations.
Maciej Konieczny, a member of the leftwing Razem party, stated that Polish company Nitro-Chem, owned by the state-controlled Polish Armaments Group, cannot meet European demand due to successive contracts supplying TNT to the US.
From Polish Factories to Gaza Battlefields
The explosive material manufactured in Poland is reportedly used by American defence contractors to produce various types of ammunition, including the 2,000lb MK-84 and 550lb BLU-109 penetrating bombs. Both weapon types have been identified in Israel's military campaign in Gaza.
Konieczny delivered a stark assessment to the Guardian: "Polish TNT is exported entirely abroad and the bombs produced from it fall on the heads of innocent civilians in Gaza and Yemen. Meanwhile due to this diversion of the factory's output, Poland has no ready means to produce its own necessary ammunition."
The Polish MP revealed that Poland's current TNT reserves would only sustain armed activities for one month in case of war, severely compromising both national security and the ability to supply artillery shells to Ukraine.
Production Figures and Contract Details
The scale of production and export commitments reveals the extent of the issue. The Polish factory produces between 10,000 and 12,000 tonnes of TNT annually, with approximately half of current output destined for the United States until at least 2029.
In April 2025, Nitro-Chem signed a substantial $310 million contract with Paramount Enterprises Ltd, a private defence logistics company specialising in munitions transportation. The agreement commits to delivering 18,000 tonnes of TNT to the US between 2027 and 2029.
This deal was signed in the presence of Poland's deputy defence minister, Cezary Tomczyk, indicating high-level government awareness of the arrangements.
Documented Impact in Gaza
A report compiled by several Palestinian non-governmental organisations substantiates claims about the material's end use. The investigation by the People's Embago for Palestine, Palestinian Youth Movement, Shadow World Investigations and the Movement Research Unit concluded that "without Polish-made TNT, the unprecedented scale and intensity of the aerial bombardment that killed tens of thousands of Palestinians and destroyed living conditions in the Gaza Strip would not have been possible".
The research traced American weapons transfers to Israel, documenting that between October 2023 and July 2024, the US transferred at least 14,000 MK-84s and 8,700 MK-82s to Israel.
While President Biden paused shipments of some larger bombs in May 2024, these restrictions were reportedly lifted by Donald Trump immediately upon assuming office.
Broader Defence Implications
The situation highlights critical vulnerabilities in European and American defence supply chains. The United States currently has no domestic TNT production capability, prompting emergency measures including government approval for a new factory in Kentucky.
Compounding the shortage, the previously available alternative source - the Zorya factory in Ukraine capable of producing 5,000 tonnes annually - now lies under Russian occupation in Luhansk. Environmental regulations and hazards make establishing new TNT production facilities particularly challenging.
Konieczny raised fundamental questions in the Polish parliament on Friday, demanding: "A full explanation is needed as to whether Gaza is being put ahead of the defence of Europe, and whether this is a demand that is being made of the Polish government by America."
In response to these allegations, Nitro-Chem issued a statement emphasising that "Nitro-Chem conducts its operations in accordance with applicable national and international law and all regulations relevant to the arms industry". The company noted it remains under constant supervision by relevant state institutions.
The controversy emerges amid changing ownership in American defence production. General Dynamics, the world's fifth largest defence company, previously manufactured the MK-80 series at its Garland Operations facility near Dallas. This facility has recently been taken over by a US subsidiary of Turkish defence company Repkon, whose home country leadership has been among Israel's most vocal critics.
