Based on Ukrainian think tank’s report, Taiwan tightens export contr of raw material for explosives

That’s according to Guildhall citing the Taiwan Central News Agency, Ukrinform reports.

The decision will come into force on June 14. Since the country has only one producer of nitrocellulose with a nitrogen content under 12.2%, and the main exporting countries are the United States and Japan, the impact of the new restriction will be negligible, the report reads.

The Department of International Trade of the Ministry of Economic Affairs of Taiwan, after banning on Macrh 8 the export to Russia and Belarus of 77 types of tos and machines, including electrical discharge machines, added nitrocellulose products to the list of goods prohibited for export to these two countries.

Read also: China’s nitrocellulose exports to Russia soar since invasion of Ukraine – media

The Trade Department explained that nitrocellulose is a key ingredient in smokeless powder, and the Eurean Union and United States contr its exports. Taiwan originally only contrled the export of nitrocellulose with a nitrogen content of over 12.2%, and the addition of nitrocellulose with a nitrogen content of under 12.2% this time is intended to strengthen contrs to eliminate lohes in international contr.

Officials from the Ministry of Economy stated that only Taiwan Nitric Corporation produces nitrocellulose with nitrogen content under 12.2%, which is mainly exported to the United States, Japan, and Vietnam and is used as adhesive for metals, wood, leather, etc., and that the new contr rules will have no significant impact on the Taiwanese company.

The Ministry of Economy recalled that the fine for primary non-compliance with the rules when exporting to Russia and Belarus was increased to 1 million yuan. Industry must comply with domestic and international export contr regulations and make effective use of corporate verification obligations to avoid non-compliance and further impact on goodwill and its own rights and interests.

Read also: Ukrainian, British think tanks expose supplies of raw materials to Russia for ammo production

It should be recalled that the Center for Defense Reforms think tank published a report “Russian Ammunition Coalition: who and how is helping Russia produce ammunition,” according to which a significant part of raw materials (nitrocellulose) used by Russia for the production of ammunition comes from NATO allies and partners. The main such suppliers are Taiwan, Germany, and Türke. Also, the report notes that China, which had not supplied nitrocellulose to Russia until 2022, became the largest supplier at the end of 2023.

On May 1, 2024, in relation to Russian companies importing nitrocellulose and cotton cellulose (raw materials used for the production of explosives and rocket fuel), as well as two Chinese companies producing nitrocellulose, which were mentioned in the said investigation, the U.S. introduced a package of sanctions.