EU boosts defense; reliance on cotton cellulose drives interest in Central Asian suppliers like Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan.
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The European Union is strengthening its defense capabilities through initiatives like Readiness 2030, which requires increased investment in military production, including gunpowder components derived from cotton cellulose. Europe’s domestic cotton production in countries like Greece, Spain, and Bulgaria is insufficient to meet these needs. While Central Asian nations are potential suppliers, Russia maintains significant influence over the region. Uzbekistan has seen a substantial increase in its cotton output, with its processed cellulose increasingly supplying the Russian market despite EU sanctions, often disguised as raw fiber. Kazakhstan also produces cotton, though much of it is exported raw; investigative reports suggest some Kazakh cellulose was used by Russian ammunition plants for defense purposes before trade restrictions were tightened. Tajikistan is reducing its cotton production, primarily exporting to Iran. Turkmenistan maintains closed statistics on its large-scale cotton industry, with major buyers being Turkey, Russia, and China. Other Central Asian nations like Kyrgyzstan produce very little cotton. While European efforts are underway to boost domestic production—such as a planned gunpowder plant in Bulgaria—it is unlikely that increased local cultivation will meet the demand for defense cellulose, suggesting continued reliance on international sourcing from producers like China, India, and Uzbekistan.
