IDL Explosives
IDL Explosives manufactures bulk explosives, cartridge explosives, propellants, and detonators from its Rourkela, Odisha facility under a 15-year defence Industrial License, supplying Coal India subsidiaries, the Indian Ministry of Defence, and select international customers as a subsidiary of Apollo Micro Systems.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded-
- HeadquartersHyderabad, India
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What IDL Explosives does
IDL Explosives Limited is an Indian industrial explosives manufacturer specializing in bulk explosives, cartridge explosives, propellants, and detonators, operating from a manufacturing facility in Rourkela, Odisha. The company holds a 15-year Industrial License under the IDR Act, 1951 to manufacture high-grade defence explosives, covering applications across missile warheads, rocket motors, artillery ammunition, and naval munitions. Its commercial portfolio extends to bulk industrial explosives supplied to mining customers, principally Coal India Limited subsidiaries under a Rs 419.39 crore running contract, alongside domestic and export orders for cartridge explosives to defence customers including the Indian Ministry of Defence.
The company generates revenue through direct hardware sales to enterprise and government customers on a contract basis, with no public pricing disclosure. Bulk explosives supply to Coal India subsidiaries represents its largest single commercial relationship, supplemented by defence-procurement contracts and a nascent export channel for cartridge explosives. IDL Explosives was acquired by Apollo Micro Systems Limited (a publicly listed Indian defence OEM on NSE and BSE) in November 2025 for Rs 107 crore via its wholly owned subsidiary Apollo Defence Industries Private Limited, transitioning ownership from Hinduja Group's GOCL Corporation. In FY26, IDL contributed Rs 379.80 crore in revenue and a Rs 30.64 crore net loss to Apollo's consolidated results, with Rs 1,430 crore in pending capex on its balance sheet signalling aggressive capacity buildout.
Post-acquisition, IDL Explosives is positioned as the explosives, propellants, and detonators node within Apollo Micro Systems' integrated defence manufacturing ecosystem, which spans avionics, actuation systems, propulsion, warhead subsystems, sonar, composite structures, and AI-engine products. The company supports Apollo's licensed weapon platforms — including missiles, torpedoes, and loitering munitions — by supplying the energetics and explosive components that complement Apollo's lifetime arms manufacturing licence granted by DPIIT in April 2026. Operating geographies are primarily India, with early-stage export activity to international defence customers.
IDL Explosives firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- IDL Explosives
- Legal name
- IDL Explosives Limited
- Website
- https://idlexplosives.com
- Company type
- Private
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- IDL Explosives manufactures bulk explosives, cartridge explosives, propellants, and detonators from its Rourkela, Odisha facility under a 15-year defence Industrial License, supplying Coal India subsidiaries, the Indian Ministry of Defence, and select international customers as a subsidiary of Apollo Micro Systems.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
IDL Explosives industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Industrial Explosives
- NAICS
- Explosives Manufacturing (32592), Explosives Manufacturing (325920), Ammunition (except Small Arms) Manufacturing (332993)
- SIC
- Ordnance & Accessories, (No Vehicles/Guided Missiles) (3480)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Commercial Explosives (Mining & Quarrying) (IMAEALAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Military-Grade Explosives & Energetic Materials (IMAEALAE), Explosives, Energetics & Pyrotechnics (Military-Grade) (IMABAHAK), Fuzes, Primers, Detonators & Initiation Systems (IMABAHAJ), Ordnance Components & Subassemblies (Casings, Liners, Guidance Sections) (IMABAHAL)
Keywords
Where IDL Explosives is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Hyderabad
- HQ country
- India
- HQ region
- Asia
Offices1 record
Markets served
IDL Explosives business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Personnel, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Defence Explosives Sales: Sale of bulk explosives, cartridge explosives, and propellants to defence customers including Coal India subsidiaries, Ministry of Defence, and export markets. The company secured a Rs. 419.39 crore running contract for bulk explosives supply to Coal India subsidiaries.
- Export Sales: International sales of cartridge explosives to foreign customers.
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels3 records
IDL Explosives product offering
Product offeringCore offering
IDL Explosives manufactures industrial and defence-grade explosives, propellants, and detonators at its Rourkela, Odisha facility. Its core offerings include bulk explosives for mining operations (notably Coal India subsidiaries), cartridge explosives for domestic and export markets, and specialised defence explosives supporting weapon systems such as missile warheads, rocket motors, artillery ammunition, and naval munitions.
Product overview
IDL Explosives Limited operates as a specialised defence explosives manufacturer acquired by Apollo Micro Systems' subsidiary Apollo Defence Industries. The company offers a focused portfolio of bulk explosives (serving Coal India and industrial customers), cartridge explosives (domestic and export), and defence-grade explosives, propellants, and detonators. The acquisition integrated these explosives capabilities into Apollo's broader defence manufacturing ecosystem, enabling end-to-end weapon systems production including missile warheads, artillery munitions, and underwater mines.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Bulk Explosives Bulk industrial explosives manufactured and supplied in large volumes to Coal India Limited subsidiaries and other industrial customers for mining and blasting operations.
- Cartridge Explosives Cartridge-form explosives supplied to domestic defence customers and exported to international customers for defence and industrial applications.
- Defence Explosives, Propellants and Detonators Specialised defence-grade explosives, propellants, and detonators that complement Apollo Micro Systems' weapon systems manufacturing, supporting end-to-end development of missiles, torpedoes, loitering munitions, artillery ammunition, and naval munitions.
Quantifiable outcome
- ₹419.39 crore contract secured for bulk explosives supply to Coal India subsidiaries
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use IDL Explosives
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
IDL Explosives technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
IDL Explosives partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- GOCL Corporation Limited (Hinduja Group)coreApollo Defence Industries Private Limited (wholly owned subsidiary of Apollo Micro Systems) acquired 100% equity stake in IDL Explosives Limited from GOCL Corporation Limited (a Hinduja Group company) for ₹107 crore in an all-cash deal. The acquisition was completed in November 2025, integrating explosives manufacturing into Apollo's defence portfolio and enabling the company to offer broader systems across artillery, missile, and high-impact weapon domains.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
IDL Explosives competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Economic Explosives Limited (EEL): India-based manufacturer of commercial explosives, detonators, and initiating systems, part of the wider IDEX/Solar Industries ecosystem. Directly competes with IDL Explosives in bulk industrial explosives for mining and infrastructure, with overlapping product categories in detonators and initiation systems.
- Solar Industries India: India's largest industrial and defence explosives manufacturer, with a domestic and export footprint spanning bulk emulsions, cartridge explosives, propellants, and defence energetics. Directly comparable to IDL Explosives in product mix (mining + defence explosives) and customer base (Coal India, MoD, export markets), making it the most relevant benchmark.
- Premier Explosives Limited: Indian manufacturer of industrial and defence explosives, rocket propellants, pyrotechnics, and solid propellant grains. Highly comparable to IDL Explosives' defence-grade portfolio, serving similar Indian defence PSU and MoD customers with propellant and explosive products.
Regional players
- BME (a division of Omnia Holdings): South African-based manufacturer of commercial explosives and blasting services for mining, primarily serving African markets. Comparable to IDL's bulk explosives product line and Coal India-style industrial customer base, though operating in a different geography.
- ENAEX: Chilean-based global producer of industrial explosives and ammonium nitrate for mining, quarrying, and infrastructure. Comparable in product category (bulk and packaged commercial explosives) but focused on Latin American markets rather than India or defence applications.
Broad incumbents
- Orica Limited: Global market leader in commercial explosives and blasting systems for mining, quarrying, and infrastructure. While Orica operates at much larger scale and does not focus specifically on India's defence explosives market, it is a relevant comparable for IDL Explosives' bulk mining explosives business and technology benchmarks.
- Dyno Nobel: Global commercial explosives manufacturer supplying bulk emulsions, detonators, and blasting services to mining and quarrying customers. Comparable to IDL Explosives' bulk Coal India contract line and industrial product portfolio, though with a much broader international footprint.
- GOCL Corporation Limited: Former parent of IDL Explosives under the Hinduja Group, with diversified explosives, chemicals, and real estate operations. Relevant as IDL's former owner and continuing adjacent industry player in Indian industrial explosives, though no longer competing directly since divesting IDL in 2025.
- Hanwha Corporation (Defence Division): South Korean conglomerate with a defence division manufacturing artillery ammunition, missiles, and explosives. Relevant as a broader defence prime with integrated explosives/propellants capability similar to what Apollo-AMS + IDL Explosives is assembling, providing a benchmark for the integrated-platform defence OEM model.
- Advanced Weapons and Equipment India Limited (AWEIL): Indian public-sector successor entity to the Ordnance Factory Board, manufacturing ammunition, explosives, and weapons for the Indian armed forces. Highly relevant as both a customer and competitor for IDL Explosives' defence-grade explosives, propellants, and munitions components in domestic procurement.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
IDL Explosives social profiles
Digital presenceIDL Explosives compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
IDL Explosives financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
IDL Explosives leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
IDL Explosives funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
IDL Explosives M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about IDL Explosives
What does IDL Explosives do?
IDL Explosives manufactures industrial and defence-grade explosives, propellants, and detonators at its Rourkela, Odisha facility. Its core offerings include bulk explosives for mining operations (notably Coal India subsidiaries), cartridge explosives for domestic and export markets, and specialised defence explosives supporting weapon systems such as missile warheads, rocket motors, artillery ammunition, and naval munitions.
Is IDL Explosives a public or private company?
IDL Explosives is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was IDL Explosives founded?
IDL Explosives was founded in -1. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is IDL Explosives based?
IDL Explosives is headquartered in Hyderabad, India, in the Asia region.
How does IDL Explosives make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Defence Explosives Sales are the primary driver. The others are export Sales.
Who are IDL Explosives's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Economic Explosives Limited (EEL), Solar Industries India and Premier Explosives Limited. Regional players are BME (a division of Omnia Holdings) and ENAEX. Broad incumbents are Orica Limited, Dyno Nobel, GOCL Corporation Limited, Hanwha Corporation (Defence Division) and Advanced Weapons and Equipment India Limited (AWEIL).
Does IDL Explosives have an API?
No public API is recorded for IDL Explosives.
What industry is IDL Explosives in?
IDL Explosives's product category is Industrial Explosives. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAEALAA, Commercial Explosives (Mining & Quarrying), with a secondary code of IMAEALAE, Military-Grade Explosives & Energetic Materials. Its NAICS code is 32592 and its SIC code is 3480.