"Innovative Market Solutions to Help Businesses Make Informed Decisions"

Activated Carbon Market Size, Share & Industry Analysis, By Type (Powdered, Granular, and Others), By Application (Water Treatment, Air & Gas Purification, Food & Beverage, Pharmaceutical & Healthcare Treatment, and Others), and Regional Forecast, 2024-2032

Last Updated: December 02, 2024 | Format: PDF | Report ID: FBI102175

 

KEY MARKET INSIGHTS

Play Audio Listen to Audio Version

The global activated carbon market size was valued at USD 5.21 billion in 2023 and is projected to grow from USD 5.50 billion in 2024 to USD 8.54 billion in 2032, exhibiting a CAGR of 5.7% during the forecast period. Moreover, the activated carbon market size in the U.S. is projected to grow significantly, reaching an estimated value of USD 2.00 billion by 2032. the growth is associated to the regulations imposed by the government on the disposal of industrial wastewater and gas emissions.


Activated carbon, also known as activated charcoal, is used in various industrial applications, such as gas and air cleaning, involving reusable recovery. Growing environmental concerns and awareness have led to strict emissions guidelines. This, in turn, has encouraged several manufacturers to invest in developed technologies and advanced concepts for the use of the product in applications such as cleaning and air treatment. It is increasingly used for water treatment, such as drinking water, service water, groundwater, and wastewater.


The primary role of the product is for the adsorption of dissolved organic impurities and the elimination of substances that affect the odor and taste. The adoption of the product in the Injection (ACI) technology has provided cost-effective methods for the purification process. These methods are used mainly in cement kilns and power plants to reduce mercury emissions. Growing pollution due to emissions caused during product manufacturing has been a significant factor driving the market growth.


The recent coronavirus outbreak has resulted in a decrease in global productivity and affected several economies across the world. The stagnant nature of manufacturing units has led to a reduction in the production rate. This has led to reduced availability of activated charcoal globally. Temporary shutdown of production facilities in various industries has reduced the usage of the product in industrial wastewater treatment and air filtration. However, the increasing awareness towards water treatment and air purification from consumers and normalization of industrial activities in 2021 has supported the market recovery from the COVID-19 impact.


Activated Carbon Market Trends


Increasing Focus of Key Players On Re-activated Carbon is the Prominent Trend in the Market


The rise in product consumption has drastically increased over the past few years. This has increased the demand to recycle or reactivate the product due to the limited presence of raw materials.


The activated carbon can be returned to its primary activation stage by the thermal process in which organic and inorganic contaminants are removed, enhancing the adsorption capacity. These used carbons are exposed at 800 degrees Celsius to reactivate in the blast furnace. The adsorbed organic or inorganic compounds are volatilized and pyrolyzed to a carbonaceous carbon at this temperature and pressure.    


This carbon reduces the polluting manufacturing waste and the amount of toxic gases such as CO2 and carbon monoxide. Additionally, the re-activation of the carbon prevents the landfills from being taken up by the granular activated carbon. Therefore, the benefits of re-activation have increased the space for the product manufacturer to recycle the product.


On the other side, reactivating carbon reduces the cost of replacing the product and offers a similar rate of adsorption compared to virgin activated carbon. Additionally, the re-activation of carbon provides easy handling and disposal practices that reduce production costs. Therefore, the consumption of this type of carbon has gradually increased over time.


Request a Free sample to learn more about this report.


Growth Factors


Increased Product Demand in Air Purification Systems to Boost Market Growth


The rising air pollution across the globe has surged the demand for air purification systems in factories and generators. Over the past years, the rise in industrialization and the increasing number of coal-based electricity-generating power plants have increased air pollution. As a result, different countries' governments have issued new policies to control the emission of pollution.


Therefore, product consumption for end products, such as carbon filters, has increased. These filters extract the micro impurities from the air when they pass through it owing to their bed structure made of powdered or granular carbon. Additionally, such carbon filters deliver remarkable filtration against volatile organic compounds (VOCs), chemicals, and hazardous gases, such as SOX and NOX.


On the other side, the number of dyspnea patients (breathing illness) has drastically increased in the past few years due to the micro-pollutants in the air. This has created a massive product demand for air filtration from residential applications. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), more than 90% of the global population breathes polluted air, and more than 4.1 million people die from air pollution yearly.


As a result, the manufacturing units and coal-based power plants started to adopt the air filtration system to limit mercury emissions. Countries, such as the U.S., have imposed strict regulations on limiting mercury and other hazardous elements to clean the air.


Therefore, all these consumption factors and the imposed regulations increase the product demand from the end-use industries such as air & gas purification.


Increasing Demand for Activated Charcoal for Personal Care Application to Fuel Market Growth


The activated carbon market is growing rapidly due to the rising adoption of activated charcoal in the personal care industry. The increasing skin consciousness amongst consumers, advancement in personal care products, and growing consumer disposable income are significant factors anticipated to boost the personal care industry globally. 


This leads to the consumption of activated charcoal in the personal care industry. The ability of the product to eliminate bacteria, poison, dirt, and chemicals from the skin's surface helps to reduce acne, making it a preferred choice in personal care products.


Also, activated charcoal has excellent purifying abilities, which makes it a popular ingredient in the beauty industry. Its major consumption can be seen in hair care products to soothe itchy, face masks to draw out unwanted gunk, and toothpaste to brighten teeth and flaky scalps.


Moreover, activated charcoal helps to unclog the pores by leaving them free from any impurities, which further makes it beneficial for oily skin. Such characteristics of product led several manufacturers to produce activated charcoal-based products specifically for the personal care industry.


For instance, in May 2022, Yardley expanded its product portfolio and launched activated charcoal-based body washes. With this launch, the company focuses on eliminating heightened hygiene concerns. Also, the product is ideal for cleansing dirt and germ protection.


The rapid growth in the personal care industry, growing consumer preference to purchase activated charcoal-based products, and increasing awareness of the benefits of activated charcoal amongst the people are anticipated to flourish product adoption. Hence, this is anticipated to drive the activated carbon market growth during the forecast period.  


RESTRAINING FACTORS


Hike in Prices Due to Raw Material Shortage to Impede Market Growth


The scarcity of various raw materials, such as coconut shell charcoal, used for production is a risk factor in the market growth. As a result, the prices of the raw materials have risen mainly from coconut shell charcoal. Coal-based product prices have increased due to higher energy needs. Coal is widely used in key application areas such as electricity, cement, and iron & steel plants in China. This has resulted in a shortage of coal grades that are used to manufacture the product. However, the decline in coconut demand has affected the operational output of producers, which has encouraged manufacturers to increase production capacities by 50% to 60%, resulting in product price hikes.


Activated Carbon Market Segmentation Analysis


By Type Analysis


To know how our report can help streamline your business, Speak to Analyst


Granular Type to Exhibit Fastest-growth owing to Increasing Preference from End-Use Industries


On the basis of type, the global market is segmented into powdered, granular, and others.


Among these, the granular segment is the fastest-growing in the market due to the high demand for the product from several end-use industries, such as water treatment and air & gas purification. GAC has a comparatively larger particle size than powdered form, thereby making it suitable for removing contaminants from liquids, air, and gases. GAC is used in the food & beverage industry to remove impurities, odor, and color from sweeteners, syrups, beverages, amino acids, and organic acids. It is also used in wastewater treatment to remove oil, industrial pollutants, heavy metals, and pesticides. Additionally, the growing demand for granular form can be attributable to its easy regeneration and reusability, which leads to overall market growth.


PAC segment is anticipated to grow significantly owing to its rising demand from water treatment industry. This type has a particle size smaller than 0.177mm as defined by ASTM; thus, it has a larger surface-area-to-volume ratio. PAC is used to remove a wide range of organic contaminants that impart color, odor, and taste from wastewater, potable water, and water required in industrial processes. It is also used in processes with high flow rates of liquids to minimize capital expenditure. Hence, the major application of PAC is for water treatment.


By Application Analysis


Water Treatment Segment to Dominate Owing to Increasing Industrial Activities


Based on application, the market is categorized into water treatment, air & gas purification, food & beverage, pharmaceutical & healthcare treatment, and others.


The water treatment segment held the largest activated carbon market share in 2023 and is expected to remain the largest throughout the forecast period. The product is commonly used in water treatment to adsorb organic compounds, odor, and taste compounds, toxic substances, and oils. It is widely used due to its high porosity and offers a larger surface area for adsorption. The rising need to treat water globally due to depleting natural resources and increasing pollutants is responsible for the market growth. Besides, strict norms implemented to treat industrial wastewater are expected to support the segment growth.  


The food & beverage segment is growing at a significant rate due to the increasing product preference for minimizing food and beverage contamination. In the food & beverage industry, the product is used to remove contaminants, such as odor and color imparting substances, heavy metals, toxic components, amino acids, and refining edible oil. Consumers' Increasing attention toward food safety and quality is expected to support market growth. Furthermore, the product has applications in industries to recover various solvents and purification of CO2, waste gases, and control mercury vapor emissions, especially from fossil fuel-based power plants.


The pharmaceutical & healthcare treatment applications of activated charcoal involve the treatment of overdoses, poisoning, indigestion, and flatulence. The segment will showcase significant demand for the product owing to its adsorption characteristics.


Charcoal is used in other applications such as rare metal recovery, energy storage, and specialty chemicals manufacturing. The current rising demand for energy has led to growth in the manufacturing of energy storage devices, thereby increasing the product consumption in batteries.


REGIONAL INSIGHTS


Asia Pacific Activated Carbon Market Size, 2023 (USD Billion)

To get more information on the regional analysis of this market, Request a Free sample


Asia Pacific dominated the market with a value of USD 2.20 billion in 2023. It is expected to remain dominant throughout the forecast period, as China and India are two major consuming countries, mainly for water treatment applications. The exponential rise in population in Asia Pacific has led to an increased need for pure and safe potable water, thereby increasing demand for activated charcoal. Additionally, the ease of availability of raw materials and their low costs are expected to support the market's growth.


The market in North America is anticipated to grow moderately due to the rising demand for products from various industrial companies. In North America, the U.S. led the market due to increased demand for water and air purification applications. Regulations imposed by the government on the disposal of industrial wastewater and gas emissions have led to the growth in the use of the product for removing contaminants such as CO2, mercury vapors, and other toxic gases.


In Europe, stringent standards and guidelines, and government initiatives to safeguard the environment have resulted in a surge in product demand from applications, including water treatment, mercury absorption, and air purification. This rising product adoption is expected to drive the Europe market significantly. In addition, regulations have also influenced automotive manufacturers to use activated charcoal to minimize emissions from the vehicle. This is expected to create several growth opportunities for the market in Europe.


The market in Latin America is expected to observe significant growth in the coming years. Mexico is the major country in this region. Increasing product consumption in the water purification and pharmaceutical industries for deodorization and decolonization is projected to drive the market.


In the Middle East & Africa, low water availability, increasing oil exploration, and industrial activities are the key factors influencing the demand for purification applications are driving the activated charcoal market growth.  


To know how our report can help streamline your business, Speak to Analyst


List of Key Companies in Activated Carbon Market


Key Market Players to Strengthen their Position by Providing Sustainability Solutions to Various Industries


Major producers, such as Kuraray Co., Ltd. and Cabot Corporation, have a widespread presence globally. They offer various types of activated charcoal products. Kuraray Co., Ltd. and Cabot Corporation used acquisition and new product developments as their key strategies to increase their global presence and serve the customer demand in the market. These companies serve various end-use industries such as water treatment, pharmaceutical, oil & gas, and food & beverage.


Osaka Gas Chemicals Co., Ltd. develops and uses technologies to supply various products to meet consumer requirements. These include products with higher performance for special industrial applications, such as air environment, water purification, food, and beverages.


LIST OF KEY COMPANIES PROFILED:



  • Osaka Gas Chemicals Co., Ltd. (Japan)

  • Donau Carbon GmbH (Germany)

  • Cabot Corporation (U.S.)

  • PURAGEN ACTIVATED CARBONS (U.S.)

  • CARBOTECH AC GMBH (Germany)

  • Kuraray Co., Ltd. (Japan)

  • KUREHA CORPORATION (Japan)

  • Activated Carbon Technologies (Australia)

  • Silcarbon Aktivkohle GmbH (Germany)

  • Ingevity (U.S.)

  • Iluka Resources (Australia)

  • James Cumming & Sons (Australia)

  • Universal Carbons (India)

  • Carbon Activated Corporation (U.S.)

  • Tronox (U.S.)

  • Active Char Products (India)

  • Genuine Shell Carb (India)


KEY INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENTS



  • March 2023 – Cabot Corporation recently launched the EVOLVE technology program that is involved in advancing sustainable reinforcing carbons. The purpose of the new technology launch is to recover the carbon product from the end-life tiers to renew the waste and reduce the carbon content.

  • January 2023 – Cabot Corporation announced that it would invest USD 200 million in the U.S. to add conductive carbons capacity at their existing Pampa, Texas, U.S. facility. The purpose of the investment is aimed at product expansion in the country for the next five years.

  • October 2022- Kuraray Co., Ltd announced that it would finish the running test operation of the reactivated carbon production facility on its Feluy plant in Germany.

  • August 2022- Ingevity announced an investment of USD 60 Mn in lithium-ion anode materials to secure a future activated carbon supply relationship with Nexeon. This investment aims to maximize the revenue from the activated carbon product segment.


REPORT COVERAGE


An Infographic Representation of Activated Carbon Market

To get information on various segments, share your queries with us



The market report provides a detailed analysis of the market and focuses on crucial aspects such as leading companies, applications, and types. Also, the report offers insights into market trends and highlights vital industry developments. In addition to the factors mentioned above, the report encompasses various factors that have contributed to the growth of the market in recent years.


To gain extensive insights into the market, Request for Customization


Report Scope & Segmentation
















































ATTRIBUTE



DETAILS



Study Period



2019-2032



Base Year



2023



Estimated Year



2024



Forecast Period



2024-2032



Historical Period



2019-2022



Growth Rate



CAGR of 5.7% from 2024-2032



Unit



Value (USD Billion) and Volume (Kiloton)



Segmentation



By Type



  • Powdered

  • Granular

  • Others



By Application



  • Water Treatment

  • Air & Gas Purification

  • Food & Beverage

  • Pharmaceutical & Healthcare Treatment

  • Others



By Geography



  • North America (By Type, Application, Country)

    • U.S. (By Type)

    • Canada (By Type)



  • Europe (By Type, Application, Country)

    • Germany (By Type)

    • France (By Type)

    • U.K. (By Type)

    • Italy (By Type)

    • Spain (By Type)

    • Russia (By Type)

    • Rest of Europe (By Type)



  • Asia Pacific (By Type, Application, Country)

    • China (By Type)

    • Japan (By Type)

    • India (By Type)

    • South Korea (By Type)

    • Rest of Asia Pacific (By Type)



  • Latin America (By Type, Application, Country)

    • Brazil (By Type)

    • Mexico (By Type)

    • Argentina (By Type)

    • Rest of Latin America (By Type)



  • Middle East & Africa (By Type, Application, Country)

    • Saudi Arabia (By Type)

    • UAE (By Type)

    • Kuwait (By Type)

    • Oman (By Type)

    • Rest of Middle East & Africa (By Type)








Frequently Asked Questions

Fortune Business Insights says that the global activated carbon market size was USD 5.21 billion in 2023 and is projected to reach USD 8.54 billion by 2032.

In 2023, the market size stood at USD 2.20 billion.

Growing at a CAGR of 5.7%, the market will exhibit steady growth in the forecast period (2024-2032).

Water treatment is expected to be the leading segment in the market under the application segment during the forecast period.

Increasing demand for water treatment applications will drive market growth.

Cabot Corporation, Kuraray Co., Ltd., Donau Carbon GmbH, and KUREHA CORPORATION are a few of the leading players in the global market.

Asia Pacific dominated the global market in 2023.

Rising demand for packaged beverages and an increasing need for clean water are expected to drive the adoption of the product.

Seeking Comprehensive Intelligence on Different Markets?
Get in Touch with Our Experts
Speak to an Expert
  • 2019-2032
  • 2023
  • 2019-2022
  • 239
Multi-report Purchase Plan
    A Customized Plan Will be Created Based on the number of reports you wish to purchase
Client Testimonials

“We are quite happy with the methodology you outlined. We really appreciate the time your team has spent on this project, and the efforts of your team to answer our questions.”

- One of the largest & renowned medical research centers based in the U.S. on a report on the U.S. NIPT Market.

“Thanks a million. The report looks great!”

- Feedback from a consultant on a report on the U.S. Beef Market.

“Thanks for the excellent report and the insights regarding the lactose market.”

- Brazil based company specializing in production of protein ingredients.

“I liked the report; would it be possible to send me the PPT version as I want to use a few slides in an internal presentation that I am preparing.”

- Global Digital Services Agency on a report on the Global Luxury Goods Market.

“This report is really well done and we really appreciate it! Again, I may have questions as we dig in deeper. Thanks again for some really good work.”

- U.S.-based biotechnology company focussing on treatment of chronic pain.

“Kudos to your team. Thank you very much for your support and agility to answer our questions.”

- Europe-based provider of solutions to automate data centre operations.

“We appreciate you and your team taking out time to share the report and data file with us, and we are grateful for the flexibility provided to modify the document as per request. This does help us in our business decision making. We would be pleased to work with you again, and hope to continue our business relationship long into the future.”

- India-based manufacturer of industrial and specialty intermediates with a strong global presence.

“I want to first congratulate you on the great work done on the Medical Platforms project. Thank you so much for all your efforts.”

- One of the largest cosmetics company in the world.

“Thank you very much. I really appreciate the work your team has done. I feel very comfortable recommending your services to some of the other startups that I’m working with, and will likely establish a good long partnership with you.”

- U.S. based startup operating in the cultivated meat market.

“We received the below report on the U.S. market from you. We were very satisfied with the report.”

- Global hearing aids manufacturer.

“I just finished my first pass-through of the report. Great work! Thank you!”

- U.S. based solar racking solutions provider.

“Thanks again for the great work on our last partnership. We are ramping up a new project to understand the imaging and imaging service and distribution market in the U.S.”

- World’s leading advisory firm.

“We feel positive about the results. Based on the presented results, we will do strategic review of this new information and might commission a detailed study on some of the modules included in the report after end of the year. Overall we are very satisfied and please pass on the praise to the team. Thank you for the co-operation!”

- Germany based machine construction company.

“Thank you very much for the very good report. I have another requirement on cutting tools, paper crafts and decorative items.”

- Japanese manufacturing company of stationery products.

“We are happy with the professionalism of your in-house research team as well as the quality of your research reports. Looking forward to work together on similar projects”

- One of the Leading Food Companies in Germany

“We appreciate the teamwork and efficiency for such an exhaustive and comprehensive report. The data offered to us was exactly what we were looking for. Thank you!”

- Intuitive Surgical

“I recommend Fortune Business Insights for their honesty and flexibility. Not only that they were very responsive and dealt with all my questions very quickly but they also responded honestly and flexibly to the detailed requests from us in preparing the research report. We value them as a research company worthy of building long-term relationships.”

- Major Food Company in Japan

“Well done Fortune Business Insights! The report covered all the points and was very detailed. Looking forward to work together in the future”

- Ziering Medical

“It has been a delightful experience working with you guys. Thank you Fortune Business Insights for your efforts and prompt response”

- Major Manufacturer of Precision Machine Parts in India

“I had a great experience working with Fortune Business Insights. The report was very accurate and as per my requirements. Very satisfied with the overall report as it has helped me to build strategies for my business”

- Hewlett-Packard

“This is regarding the recent report I bought from Fortune Business insights. Remarkable job and great efforts by your research team. I would also like to thank the back end team for offering a continuous support and stitching together a report that is so comprehensive and exhaustive”

- Global Management Consulting Firm

“Please pass on our sincere thanks to the whole team at Fortune Business Insights. This is a very good piece of work and will be very helpful to us going forward. We know where we will be getting business intelligence from in the future.”

- UK-based Start-up in the Medical Devices Sector

“Thank you for sending the market report and data. It looks quite comprehensive and the data is exactly what I was looking for. I appreciate the timeliness and responsiveness of you and your team.”

- One of the Largest Companies in the Defence Industry
We use cookies to enhance your experience. By continuing to visit this site you agree to our use of cookies . Privacy.
X