Nitrocellulose (NC) is an interesting chemical. It is manufactured from cellulose and a mixture of nitric acid and sulfuric acid; it is used for, among other things, munitions, and has been used as a replacement for gunpowder. Nitrocellulose is the raw material for, among other things, the charges for artillery shells.

Interestingly, nitrocellulose is also a key ingredient for wood coatings and solvent-based packaging inks, as it quickly evaporates, allowing for faster press speeds. The supply of nitrocellulose has not been an issue for ink manufacturers, as it is produced in two different grades, one for printing and one for weaponry.

However, with the current geopolitical tensions, particularly in the Ukraine, and the US mandating that the EU countries start to take on more of their defense spending, the need for more weaponry has begun to impact nitrocellulose supply.

For one example, Rheinmetall agreed to acquire Hagedorn-NC, a German producer of industrial nitrocellulose, in April 2025. Rheinmetall will convert Hagedorn-NC’s nitrocellulose production lines to military grade. In November 2024, the Czechoslovak Group (CSG) acquired International Flavors & Fragrances’ nitrocellulose segment.

With supply tightening, prices are naturally rising for ink manufacturers, who have no choice but to pass the increased costs on to converters. So far, Sun Chemical, Flint Group and hubergroup have announced price increases, and it is very likely others have privately passed on higher costs. The situation is likely to continue for the foreseeable future.

Nitrocellulose and Printing Ink

As mentioned above, nitrocellulose is a key ingredient for solvent-based packaging inks. Doug Aldred, CEO & president Packaging Inks North America and chief commercial officer for Flint Group, points out that nitrocellulose (NC) is used in solvent-based inks and coatings for flexographic and gravure printing, commonly used in flexible packaging, labels and other packaging and print applications.

“NC is a widely used binder in ink and coating products – these inks and coatings are valued for their fast-drying times, good adhesion to a range of substrates, and print clarity—making them well-suited for high-speed packaging environments,” Aldred adds. “For coatings, in particular, NC is a key ingredient for a durable or high-gloss effect.”

“Nitrocellulose is an essential component in most of the solvent-based gravure and flexo ink and coating (overprint varnish) formulations, which is the single largest category in the market,” says Jeffrey Shaw, VP and chief supply chain officer, Sun Chemical. “This resin offers excellent formulation, printing, and application to inks. Its rapid solvent release enables high press speeds and low solvent retention. Historically, it has been a lower-cost raw material versus other resin systems.

“Nitrocellulose (NC) is a core resin for many solvent-based inks, particularly in flexographic and gravure applications,” notes Anthony DeFrancesco, INX VP of integrated supply chain. “These inks are widely used in packaging where fast drying and adhesion are essential. This a legacy material within the ink industry, and despite emerging technologies, NC-based inks remain foundational across print platforms.

“It supports fast drying times, high gloss, and excellent print reliability, which are all great qualities. Nitrocellulose also offers strong adhesion and a balance of flexibility and durability that packaging converters rely on,” adds DeFrancesco. “From a performance standpoint, it’s highly efficient and proven. That said, its benefits also come with handling and sourcing challenges that we monitor closely.”

The Nitrocellulose Shortage

The increased defense spending in the EU is leading to the shortage of nitrocellulose, as NC producers shift to defense spending.

“Nitrocellulose is developed in two different grades—the industrial grade used in solvent-based inks and coatings and the highly flammable weapons grade variety, which is often found in explosives,” Shaw points out. “Considering multiple current global conflicts, some nitrocellulose providers are shifting their production toward military grades, resulting in supply availability issues for the packaging industry.” 

As a result, Sun Chemical Packaging and Graphics has recently increased prices across its entire portfolio of products containing nitrocellulose in Europe, Middle East and Africa due to the significant cost increase of the raw material.

“The global NC supply chain is under pressure from a mix of regulatory, environmental, and safety constraints,” says DeFrancesco. “Producing regions have been exposed to increased compliance challenges and hazardous material risks. On top of that, raw material availability and logistics bottlenecks continue to disrupt flow. It’s a classic case of constrained supply against stable to rising demand.”

In regards to nitrocellulose being used in the production of ammunition, INX’s Russell Szadowski mentioned what is currently taking place overseas.

“The continued war in Ukraine and the potential for unrest in the Middle East have increased the demand for the military use of Nitrocellulose,” notes Szadowski, who is INX’s director of strategic sourcing and procurement. “As a response, Rheinmetall AG has taken over Hagedom-NC with the expressed intent to move the commercial supply of nitrocellulose to a military use.”

“Like most constrained raw materials, nitrocellulose has seen sharp pricing volatility. Costs have risen, and those increases are cascading through the value chain. In an inflationary environment, it compounds the pressure on everything from sourcing to customer pricing,” adds DeFrancesco.

“The shortage of nitrocellulose is largely driven by increased global defense spending,” Aldred reports. “As countries rearm in response to geopolitical tensions, demand for NC, a key component in ammunition, has surged. This, combined with existing supply chain constraints, has created a significant shortfall for industrial uses such as inks and coatings.

“Nitrocellulose pricing has risen sharply, with market-wide increases of greater than 50% effective from July 1, 2025. Some suppliers have announced further hikes through the end of the year,” Aldred adds. “Flint Group’s procurement team is actively working to secure supply and mitigate the impact for the remainder of 2025 and beyond.”

“There has been a market rise in demand for nitrocellulose in so-called ‘energetic applications, particularly in military sectors,” hubergroup reports in its pricing announcement. “This shift has led to growing global supply constraints and a sharp increase in prices – by as much as 50% – for ink-related uses.”

“We understand that fluctuating prices can be challenging for our customers,” Carsten Zölzer, CCO Print Solutions at hubergroup, says when announcing the ink price increase. “We are committed to maintaining transparency and open dialogue as we navigate these changes.”

Solutions to the Shortage

This leaves ink manufacturers trying to cope with higher prices and short supply. Fortunately, ink companies do have some NC-free inks handy, with an eye toward improving recyclability.

INX recently launched its Innova Plus NCF NC-free flexo inks. Flint Group is committed to nitrocellulose-free alternatives with an eye on the EU’s Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR), introducing its VertixCode flexo and MatrixCode gravure inks for flexible packaging in polyurethane-based chemistries. Siegwerk also has NC-free ink systems, using polyurethane-based binders.

“We have already been offering NC-free inks for lamination for a long time,” says Björn Ewig, head of technology, Flexible Packaging EMEA at Siegwerk, in announcing recent developments. “With our latest solutions, we have now developed NC-free ink alternatives specifically for surface printing that offer the same technical and mechanical performances as comparable NC-based inks, but with the added benefit of being recyclable.”

“Sun Chemical offers a broad range of nitrocellulose-free solutions, including inks, coatings and adhesives solutions for lamination and surface printing, suitable for flexography or rotogravure, to meet the evolution of recycling goals,” says Shaw. “Printers are open to the alternatives we’ve already noted. They continue to work with our commercial teams to identify the best options.” 

“Adapting through diversified sourcing strategies while keeping technical options on the table for reformulation are proven countermeasures,” says DeFrancesco. “Strong supplier partnerships and early planning are critical levers in today’s marketplace. These scenarios test the flexibility and speed of even the strongest supply chains.”  

Aldred notes that one potential solution to the current nitrocellulose shortage is transitioning to NC-free ink and coating technologies.

“Proven NC-free solutions are already available on the market and are designed to deliver excellent print performance – even at high press speeds,” Aldred says. “These alternatives not only help mitigate supply risk but also support broader goals around sustainability and regulatory compliance.

“Many printers and converters are actively reaching out to suppliers to understand the impact on pricing, supply security, and to explore alternative technologies that do not rely on nitrocellulose,” Aldred adds. “Ink suppliers, including Flint Group, are discussing NC-free solutions that can offer long-term stability and performance without compromising production efficiency.”