Activated Carbon Market

Activated Carbon Market Size (2024-2029):

The Global Activated Carbon Market was worth US$ 9.17 billion in 2023 and is anticipated to reach a valuation of US$ 17.59 billion by 2029 and is predicted to register a CAGR of 11.46% during 2024-2029.

Market Overview:

Activated carbon is one of the key features in the adsorbent market worldwide. Its adsorption capacity is high, and it also has a big surface area. Coal, wood, coconut shells, and lignite are the vital raw materials employed for production. It is subdivided into three kinds, namely, powdered, extruded, and granular. Activated charcoal is used mainly in the liquid phase and gas phase applications. The Activated Carbon Market has a decent growth pace in the global market, which is driven by the demand for powdered carbon, mainly in industrial applications.

Activated carbon, also called activated charcoal, is a type of processed coal. This allows the output solid to showcase small and low-volume pores that escalate the surface area for adsorption or chemical reactions. It is mainly employed for the purification of gases and liquids in food and beverage processing, chemical businesses, and water treatment. 

Organic material with significant carbon content is processed to make activated carbon. Physical adsorption is a major characteristic of activated carbon that is helpful for purification, decaffeination, metal finishing, medicine, filters, and getting rid of pollutants and fuel storage. The liquid and gaseous stage of activated carbon improves its uses in getting rid of lead, dissolved radon, other odor-causing compounds, and mercury. The advantages provided by the activated carbon segment will drive the business globally. Activated carbon is usually employed for its decolorization and deodorization characteristics. Rising pollution and increasing awareness about health are factors due to which there has been a slow and continuous expansion of activated carbon in the market.

Market Drivers:

The primary health risks of drinking mixed waters are increasing continuously among customers. Improved drinking water treatments, rising automobile ownership rates, and growing making & environmental standards are boosting the expansion of the activated carbon business. Businesses are adopting geographic growth and the latest product advancement as significant strategies to survive in the market. The major drivers in the activated carbon market include international rules governing the discharge of mercury from businesses, and rising calls for water treatment chemicals. These are estimated to entail the adoption of these solids to decrease release and make sure the removal of impurities.

The regulatory agencies in different parts of the globe have emanated directives aimed at restraining mercury emissions by a broad array of businesses, including petrochemical complexes like refineries and plants. These include rules, like the Mercury and Air Toxic Standard (MATS) emanated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and ratified by the Minamata Convention in the European Union that have been instrumental in holding back the release of mercury and acidic gases from coal-based and other power plants. The application of this carbon assists in efficiently controlling these releases. Hence, the formulation and implementation of such regulations are estimated to boost the activated carbon market by assisting in the rising potential call for these solids in the future.

The primary health risks and dangers related to the oral consumption of impure water are estimated to act as a catalyst for the market call for these solids. Many countries involving China and India are highly investing in water purification plants that are determined to boost the expansion of the global activated carbon market during the foreseen period.

Market Restraints:

The danger of the adoption of alternatives like silica gel and super-sand is providing major competition to the dynamics of activated carbons. Additional factors like low presence of raw materials like phenolic resins, coconut shell charcoal, and wood charcoal (hence causing volatile price trends), and the availability of costly derivatives of these solids are estimated to impede the adoption of these solids, and therefore, constrain the market expansion in the future.

Market Opportunities:

Reactivated carbon is considered as an opportunity for Activated Carbon producers to maximize their profits. The call for activated carbon has escalated highly owing to the stringent rules for air quality, rising numbers of municipal water treatment, and industrial plants.

Market Key Challenges:

The call for activated carbon is directly proportional to operational activities in these businesses; therefore, such attributes are estimated to hamper the expansion of the global activated carbon market. The availability of raw materials may be restricted owing to environmental factors that may cause an increase in costs. This may have a bad influence on the global activated carbon market.

ACTIVATED CARBON MARKET REPORT COVERAGE:

Market Segmentation:

Activated Carbon Market – By Type:

• Powdered
• Granular
• Pelletized
• Bead

Among the mentioned types, the powdered carbon segment is the largest, fast-moving, and is expected to have the fastest growth rate in the proposed forecast period. The growth is mainly attributed to the demand for this type of activated carbon in industrial applications.

Activated Carbon Market – By Application:

• Liquid Phase
• Gaseous Phase

The liquid phase segment can be further segmented into Water Treatment, Foods & Beverages, and Pharmaceutical & Medical. Whereas the gaseous phase segment is sub-segmented into Industrial, Automotive. Of the mentioned applications, the gaseous phase has the highest CAGR in the global market. The growth is mainly due to the demand for industrial applications of powdered activated carbon in the forecast, as mentioned earlier period.

Market Regional Analysis: 

The Global Activated Carbon Market Report includes the segmentation of regions:

• North America
• Latin America
• Europe
• Asia Pacific
• Middle East & Africa

Worldwide, Asia-Pacific activated carbon market is estimated to occupy a major share of the global business in the forecast period. Moreover, government rules, the availability of an enormous consumption base, and a major expansion of different end-use industries like water treatment and manufacturing are estimated to drive the market call in the region. The industrial development in growing clusters across the world like the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), North African countries, and Central and Eastern European countries is estimated to provide a broad consumption base for this business in the upcoming period.

The North American activated carbon market accounted for the second-highest share of the global business, with a worth of USD 914.3 million in 2020. The increasing pressure from the EPA and the government of the US over the companies to decrease mercury releases is probable to fuel the call for activated carbon in the region. The activated carbon market in Latin America is estimated to showcase high expansion during the forecast period to reach USD 430 million by the end of 2025. Europe-activated carbon business is also foreseen to register a notable growth rate in the outlook period.

Market Key Players:

1. Cabot Corporation (U.S)
2. Donau Carbon GmbH (Germany)
3. KUREHA CORPORATION(Japan)
4. Osaka Gas Co. Ltd (Japan)
5. Silcarbon Akilotonivkohle GmbH (Germany)
6. Oxbow Activated Carbon LLC (U.S.)
7. Calgon Carbon Corp (U.S)
8. Kuraray Chemical Co. Ltd (Japan)
9. Haycarb Plc. (Sri Lanka)