China-Russia arms trade: rising nitrocellulose exports raise concerns

Japanese media reported on Thursday about a drastic increase in the export of nitrocellulose from China to Russia, which is used for the production of artillery ammunition. This export was almost non-existent before the war in Ukraine, but according to the public broadcaster NHK, it increased to 1.4 tonnes last year.

The NHK report was published just as Vladimir Putin officially visited China. During the visit, the Russian leader and the Chinese leader emphasized that their cooperation is tightening, which they do not intend to change.

Meanwhile, according to the Japanese broadcaster, an analysis of data published by the Chinese customs administration in 2015 shows that until 2021, the export of nitrocellulose from China to Russia was practically non-existent. This changed in May 2022, just three months after Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

At that time, a sudden increase in exports was recorded. In 2022, China exported a little over 700 tonnes of nitrocellulose to Russia, and the volume almost doubled the following year to over 1,400 tonnes. Data for the period from January to March 2024 indicate about 120 tonnes.

This information, therefore, confirms early war concerns in Ukraine that China would assist Russia despite Western sanctions, which were meant to cut off the Russian war machine from important military and defence industry components.

Nitrocellulose is a substance produced by treating cotton fibres with nitric acid. Although it is used in producing paint, lacquer, and ink, it is highly flammable. It is used as a material for gunpowder and rockets, making it one of the dual-use products that can be utilized for both military and civilian purposes.

In April, during a meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken described China as the "largest supplier" of such items, mentioning nitrocellulose as one of them.

Asked for a comment on the matter, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said on Thursday that "China does not accept the blame" from Washington towards Beijing.

"China has always treated the export of military products prudently and responsibly and strictly controls the export of dual-use items, including drones for civilian use," Wang declared.

In March, the American daily "Wall Street Journal," based on trade data, reported that in 2023, Russia imported over 3,300 tonnes of nitrocellulose, almost twice as much as before the armed assault on Ukraine. The U.S. Department of Commerce added this material to the list of controlled goods at the end of last year.