China Targets Deadly Underground Chemical Operations Amid Surge in Explosions

1. Chinese authorities are intensifying efforts to curb a deadly rise in illegal chemical manufacturing driven by high pesticide ingredient prices, leading to explosive unregulated factories [para. 1]. Market fluctuations and profit motives since last year have spurred fatal accidents, prompting the State Council Work Safety Committee and Ministry of Emergency Management to launch inspections, supervision, and exposures [para. 2].

2. Liu Li, deputy director at the Ministry of Emergency Management, highlighted profit-chasing without safety at an April 22 news conference [para. 3]. The price surge of 2-nitro-3-methylbenzoic acid (also 3-methyl-2-nitrobenzoic acid), a pesticide raw material prone to explosive nitration, fueled illicit production by untrained operators lacking safety measures [para. 4][para. 9]. Explosions occurred in Xinxiang, Henan on July 23, 2025, and Shuozhou, Shanxi on Feb. 7 [para. 4].

3. This compound is key for chlorantraniliprole insecticide used on rice, corn, and cotton [para. 5]. The China Crop Protection Industry Association on Feb. 10 urged stricter oversight, citing safety risks, market disruption, and threats to sustainability from illicit production [para. 5].

4. The July 23, 2025, Henan blast at Huojia County Daxin Chemical killed 3, injured 2, with 5.87 million yuan ($860,000) losses [para. 7]. Caused by illegal subleasing to Xinxiang Dayuan Petrochemical, which misused permits, retrofitted equipment including six secondhand kettles, and performed prohibited hot work amid regulatory failures; they produced the compound covertly since July 2023 [para. 7][para. 8].

5. The Feb. 7 Shuozhou explosion at Jiapeng Biological Technology, disguised as a feed plant, killed 8, injured 3, producing the same chemical [para. 10]. State Council oversight demanded criminal accountability [para. 10].

6. Illicit operations evade detection by hiding in border zones, abandoned sites, or rural areas, disguising activities, or being nomadic [para. 12][para. 13]. A Jan. 20, 2024, Juancheng, Shandong blast from 3-chloropropyne production killed 7, caused 9.8985 million yuan losses; the operation moved across two provinces and three sites [para. 13]. Networks link suppliers, experts, landlords, vendors, and buyers, requiring multi-agency coordination [para. 14].

7. Countermeasures include grassroots grid monitoring, big data/AI for supply chain anomalies, and harsh prosecutions [para. 15]. On April 16, 10 agencies added five chemicals including 2-nitro-3-methylbenzoic acid and 3-chloropropyne to the Hazardous Chemicals Catalog for strict licensing [para. 16]. Awareness campaigns and rewards up to 400,000 yuan in Shandong encourage whistleblowers [para. 17].