CBC

What CBC does

CBC (Companhia Brasileira de Cartuchos) is a privately held Brazilian ammunition and firearms manufacturer founded in 1926 and headquartered in Ribeirão Pires, São Paulo. The company operates as one of the world's largest military ammunition manufacturers, exporting to 130 countries across five continents and counted among the largest suppliers to NATO member nations. Its portfolio spans complete ammunition families for handguns, rifles, and shotguns (including premium lines Pro Shock, Bonded, and Gold Hex with proprietary projectile geometries, and training lines Polymatch and NTA), a firearms line (rifles, lever-action carbines, pump shotguns, single-shot shotguns, pistols), reloading components (propellants, primers, cases), and distributed imported brands (Sellier & Bellot, Hornady, Vihtavuori, ELEY, KHAN, ARMSAN, ATA).

The company's technology base is anchored in vertical integration across the productive chain, including a continuous extrusion propellant manufacturing process pioneered worldwide and operated for over 35 years starting at the Ribeirão Pires facility in 1985. Proprietary projectile technologies (Bonded welded-core, Gold Hex hexagonal hollow-point, Pro Shock expansive design) and safety/environmental training ammunition architectures (Polymatch polymer coating, NTA heavy-metal-free smokeless) provide product differentiation. Manufacturing is certified to NATO, Mil Standard, SAAMI, and CIP international specifications.

Revenue is generated through hardware sales across three primary channels: direct B2B procurement with the Brazilian Armed Forces (Army, Navy, Air Force) and federal/state police agencies; a CBC Store e-commerce platform serving authorized CACs (Collectors, Shooters, Hunters), military, police, and civilian consumers of accessories; and an authorized reseller store network throughout Brazil. Internationally, CBC reaches 130 countries through defense distributors and branded sites (cbcdefesa.com.br, cbcdefense.com). Customer segments span military, public security, private security, sport shooting, hunting, and civilian self-defense. Pricing is not publicly disclosed and is structured around direct contracts for government/enterprise buyers and standard retail pricing through authorized resellers and the own-storefront channel.

Name

CBC

Legal name

Companhia Brasileira de Cartuchos

Website

https://cbc.com.br

Company type

Private

Founded year

1926

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

CBC (Companhia Brasileira de Cartuchos) is a Brazilian ammunition and firearms manufacturer founded in 1926, supplying military, police, and civilian markets across 130 countries including NATO member nations. It produces ammunition, firearms, and reloading components using proprietary technologies and vertical integration.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Ammunition and Firearms Manufacturing

NAICS

Small Arms Ammunition Manufacturing (332992), Small Arms, Ordnance, and Ordnance Accessories Manufacturing (332994), Ammunition (except Small Arms) Manufacturing (332993)

SIC

Ordnance & Accessories, (No Vehicles/Guided Missiles) (3480), Sporting & Athletic Goods, Nec (3949)

akta.pro primary industry

Ammunition Manufacturing (Small-, Medium- & Large-Caliber) (IMABAHAG)

akta.pro secondary industry

Artillery, Mortar & Tank Munitions (IMABAHAH)

Keywords

• Ammunition manufacturing
• Military ammunition
• Firearms manufacturing
• Shooting sports equipment
• Defense products

Headquarters

HQ city

Ribeirão Pires

HQ country

Brazil

HQ region

Latin America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Ammunition Sales: CBC generates revenue primarily through manufacturing and selling ammunition for handguns, rifles, and shotguns. Product lines include conventional lead and high-penetration full metal jacket ammunition, as well as premium expansive ammunition for defense and law enforcement.
2. Firearms Sales: Sales of firearms including rifles, lever action carbines, pump shotguns, single-shot shotguns, and pistols under the CBC brand.
3. Components and Reloading Supplies: Sales of propellants, primers, and empty cases for cartridge reloading. CBC offers propellants in tubular, compact disc, and porous disc formats under their own brand for the reloading market.
4. Imported Products Distribution: Distribution of imported brands including CBC by KHAN, CBC by ARMSAN, CBC by ATA, SELLIER & BELLOT, ELEY BY CBC, HORNADY, and VIHTAVUORI, as well as projectiles, cases, primers, and powders.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

CBC manufactures and sells a complete portfolio of small-arms ammunition (handgun, rifle, shotgun), firearms (rifles, carbines, pump shotguns, single-shot shotguns, pistols), and reloading components (primers, powders, cases). The company serves military, law enforcement, private security, sport shooting, hunting, and civilian markets through proprietary technologies including Bonded, Gold Hex, Pro Shock, Polymatch, and NTA ammunition lines, alongside distributed imported brands (Sellier & Bellot, Hornady, Vihtavuori, ELEY, KHAN, ARMSAN, ATA).

Product overview

CBC (Companhia Brasileira de Cartuchos) is a munitions and firearms manufacturer offering a comprehensive portfolio organized into ammunition products for handguns, rifles, and shotguns, firearms including rifles and pistols, air rifles, competition and hunting cartridges, and components such as primers, powders, and cases. The core product lines include premium expanding ammunition (Pro Shock, Bonded, Gold Hex) and training ammunition (Polymatch, NTA). The company also distributes imported brands (Sellier & Bellot, Hornady, Vihtavuori, ELEY) and maintains a dedicated military and law enforcement product line accessible through cbcdefesa.com.br. CBC serves multiple market segments including sports shooting, hunting, civilian consumer, private security, public security, and military applications.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Pro Shock: Premium expansive ammunition line with special projectile design
• Bonded
• Gold Hex
• Polymatch
• NTA
• CBC Store
• CBC Defesa
• CBC Defense
• Team TAURUS CBC

Products and services

• Handgun and Carbine Ammunition (Muni\u00e7\u00f5es Armas Curtas e Carabinas) Complete portfolio of handgun and carbine ammunition with various projectile configurations including conventional lead, jacketed high penetration, hollow point expanding versions, and premium lines such as Pro Shock, Bonded, and Gold Hex. For military, law enforcement, sport shooting, and civilian markets.
• Pro Shock Premium Ammunition Premium expanding ammunition line featuring specialized projectile construction design for enhanced terminal performance. For defense and law enforcement applications.
• Bonded Premium Ammunition Premium ammunition line with bonded bullet technology where the metal jacket and lead core are welded together, preventing fragmentation and ensuring uniform results even in indirect shots. For defense and law enforcement applications.
• Gold Hex Premium Ammunition Premium ammunition featuring hexagonal geometry hollow point design that guarantees high performance and perfect balance between expansion and ideal penetration without target over-penetration. For defense applications.
• Polymatch Training Ammunition Exclusive training ammunition with four layers of special polymer coating, loaded with projectile weight suitable for proportional recoil and precision similar to operational ammunition. For military and law enforcement training.
• NTA Training Ammunition Training ammunition that does not generate toxic gases or residues during firing, featuring smoke-free chemical powder and heavy metal-free initiator mixture. For indoor and environmentally conscious training.
• Rifle Ammunition (Muni\u00e7\u00f5es Fuzis e Rifles) Rifle ammunition including the Sniper 1 Premium line for precision shooting applications. For military, law enforcement, sport shooting, and hunting markets.
• Shotgun Ammunition (Muni\u00e7\u00f5es Fogo Circular) Shotgun ammunition including the Knock Down Premium line designed for hunting applications. For hunting, sport shooting, and law enforcement.
• Velox Hunting Cartridges Fast hunting cartridges designed for hunting applications with optimized ballistics. For recreational hunters and wildlife management.
• Competition Cartridges Competition-grade cartridges designed for shooting sports and competitive events. For competitive shooters and Olympic athletes.
• Firearms (Armas de Fogo) Firearms including rifles, lever action carbines, pump shotguns, single-shot shotguns, and pistols for sporting and defensive applications. For sport shooting, hunting, and self-defense.
• Air Rifles (Carabinas de Press\u00e3o) Pressure carbines/air rifles for sporting and recreational shooting. For sport shooting and recreational use.
• Imported Products Distribution (CBC by Khan, CBC by Armsan, CBC by ATA, Sellier & Bellot, ELEY by CBC, Hornady, Vihtavuori) Imported products distributed in Brazil including firearms (CBC by Khan, CBC by Armsan, CBC by ATA), ammunition (Sellier & Bellot, ELEY by CBC, Hornady), and reloading components (Vihtavuori propellants, projectiles, cases, primers, and powders). For civilian and sport shooting markets.
• Primers (Espoletas) Three types of primers for centerfire cartridge reloading: Boxer, Battery, and Berdan types, available in various sizes for different calibers. For reloaders and ammunition manufacturers.
• Gun Powders (P\u00f3lvoras) High-quality gun powders developed and refined over 35 years using continuous extrusion manufacturing process, available in tubular, compact disc, and porous disc formats. For reloaders and ammunition manufacturers.
• Cartridge Cases (Estojos) Cartridge cases made from special brass alloy with rigorous dimensional controls and heat treatments, including the Presidente Line for shotgun reloading. For reloaders and ammunition manufacturers.
• Military and Police Portfolio (Portf\u00f3lio Militar e Policial) Military and law enforcement products including pump action shotguns, ammunition families for training, riot control cartridges, and high-performance operational ammunition available through dedicated defense portal (cbcdefesa.com.br). For armed forces, police, and private security.

Quantifiable outcome

• Products exported to 130 countries across 5 continents
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Marinha do Brasil (Brazilian Navy) / DSAMcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 March 2025Protocol of Intentions signed March 3, 2025 with the Brazilian Navy through DSAM (Diretoria de Sistemas de Armas da Marinha) for cooperation in naval ammunition. CBC is recognized as one of the main ammunition manufacturers in Brazil.
• Sellier & BellotminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCBC distributes Sellier & Bellot products in Brazil as part of their imported products portfolio including projectiles, primers, and powders.
• HornadyminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCBC distributes Hornady ammunition and components in Brazil as part of their imported products portfolio.
• VihtavuoriminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCBC distributes Vihtavuori propellants in Brazil as part of their imported products portfolio for reloading.
• ELEYminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCBC distributes ELEY rimfire ammunition under the ELEY BY CBC brand in Brazil.
• KHANminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCBC distributes KHAN firearms under the CBC BY KHAN brand in Brazil.
• ARMSANminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCBC distributes ARMSAN firearms under the CBC BY ARMSAN brand in Brazil.
• ATAminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCBC distributes ATA firearms under the CBC BY ATA brand in Brazil.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights10 records

Direct peers

• Sellier & Bellot: Czech ammunition manufacturer producing cartridges for hunting, sport shooting, law enforcement, and military markets across small-arms and selected military calibers. Highly comparable to CBC as a long-standing European/NATO-region ammunition producer with a similar caliber portfolio and export-driven business model.
• Magtech Ammunition: Brazilian sister-company ammunition manufacturer focused on sporting, law enforcement, and military cartridges. Direct competitor in the Brazilian civilian and defense markets with overlapping caliber coverage and similar distribution channels (CAC-registered customers, military, police).
• Fiocchi Munizioni: Italian ammunition manufacturer serving sport shooting, hunting, law enforcement, and military markets worldwide. Comparable to CBC as a vertically integrated, export-oriented ammunition producer with premium branded lines (e.g., Exact, Range Pack) and NATO-relevant military calibers.
• RUAG Ammotec: European defense and ammunition manufacturer with military small-arms munitions and sniper/professional lines, plus hunting and sport shooting products. Comparable to CBC as a NATO-aligned ammunition producer with both defense and civilian revenue streams and a vertically integrated supply chain.
• Nammo: Nordic (Norway/Finland) joint defense manufacturer producing small-arms ammunition, shoulder-fired munitions, and aerospace products for NATO militaries. Comparable to CBC as a large military ammunition supplier with a focus on NATO-grade calibers and shoulder-fired weapon systems.
• Hornady Manufacturing: U.S.-based ammunition manufacturer producing hunting, self-defense, law enforcement, and military cartridges under premium brands (Precision Hunter, SST, Critical Defense). Comparable to CBC as a vertically integrated ammunition company with proprietary projectile technologies and a strong brand in defensive ammunition.
• Winchester Ammunition: One of the most iconic U.S. ammunition brands producing military, law enforcement, hunting, and sport shooting cartridges. Comparable to CBC as a long-established, broad-portfolio ammunition manufacturer serving military, civilian, and export markets across all major small-arms calibers.
• PMC (Poongsan Corporation): South Korean ammunition manufacturer producing military, law enforcement, and civilian cartridges, with significant defense contract work for Korean and allied militaries. Comparable to CBC as a vertically integrated ammunition manufacturer combining military government contracts with civilian/hunting product lines.
• ELEY (Eley Limited): British rimfire and centerfire ammunition manufacturer specializing in competitive and target shooting products. Comparable to CBC as a precision ammunition producer serving Olympic and competitive shooting — CBC distributes ELEY products under 'ELEY BY CBC' in Brazil.

Broad incumbents

• Taurus Armas: Brazilian firearms and defense conglomerate; CBC and Taurus share historical corporate lineage (Team TAURUS CBC athlete sponsorship is referenced in the data). Comparable as a Brazilian incumbent in firearms and defense with overlapping domestic military/police and civilian customer relationships.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/oficial_cbc
• Facebookfacebook.com/cbcoficial
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cbcoficial

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about CBC