Activated Carbon Market

Activated Carbon Market Outlook (2023 - 2033)

The global activated carbon market is set to estimate a valuation of US$ 3.3 billion in 2023 and it is anticipated to grow at a CAGR of 5.2% to reach US$ 5.4 billion by the end of 2033.

Growing demand from water treatment applications is likely to drive the activated carbon market in the forecast period. Development in technology, increasing awareness about health, and rising consumer spending on medical services are some of the key factors driving the activated carbon market.

Report Attributes	Details
Estimated Market Value (2023E)	US$ 3.3 Billion
Forecasted Market Value (2033F)	US$ 5.4 Billion
Global Market Growth Rate (2023–2033)	~5.2% CAGR
North America Market Share (2023)	~27.4%
East Asia Market Growth Rate (2023–2033)	~5.3% CAGR
Europe Market Growth Rate (2023–2033)	~5.0% CAGR
Key Companies Profiled	Osaka Gas Co. Ltd. Cabot Corporation Kuraray Co. Calgon Carbon Haycarb Kureha Corporation Donau Carbon GMBH Silcarbon Aktivkohle GMBH

Historic and Future Path for Activated Carbon Market

Activated carbon plays a crucial role in eliminating impurities, chemicals, dirt, and bacteria from the skin, due to which skin care product manufacturing companies across the globe are utilizing activated charcoal in their products. This factor is likely to boost the demand for activated carbon in the coming years.

Furthermore, the increasing use of activated carbon in food, automotive, air purification, and industrial processing is likely to create high demand for activated carbon in the forecast period.

• Short Term (2023–2026): Increasing demand from water treatment applications and the automotive industry to remove impurities, control emissions, and eliminate VOCs are likely to drive the market in coming years.
• Medium Term (2026–2029): Increasing demand for skin care products in which activated carbon plays a crucial role and stringent environmental regulations regarding elimination of toxic gases from the power plant emissions, natural gas production units, and other anthropogenic sources are anticipated to fuel demand for activated carbon over coming years.
• Long Term (2029–2033): Various activities carried out by the government across the globe for water treatment applications and rising expenditure on personal care products are likely to create high demand for the activated carbon market in the coming years.

Market Dynamics Overview

“Growing Demand from End–Use Application to Boost the Activated Carbon Market”

The growing use for water treatment applications is likely to drive the activated carbon market in the coming years. A filter with granular activated carbon is a proven option for removing certain chemicals such as organic chemicals from water to make it safe for drinking and other applications.

Increasing awareness for safe drinking water and investment by the government and other institutions in water treatment applications is likely to create high demand for activated carbon. Over the period, the government across developing countries have raised their investment in water treatment, which has provided an opportunity for manufacturing companies to increase their production.

Furthermore, the growing use of activated carbon in skin care products to lift the activated carbon market. Activated carbon plays a crucial role in removing impurities such as chemicals, dirt, and bacteria to increase the demand for activated carbon. Also, increasing use of activated carbon in the medical & healthcare industry will boost the demand for activated carbon.

“Lack of Availability of Raw materials to Hamper the Market”

The lack of availability of raw materials such as charcoal, and coconut shell charcoal is likely to have a negative impact on the growth of the activated carbon market in the coming years. Also, the quality of raw materials used has a significant impact on the end product.

In addition, the constantly changing raw material prices can have an adverse impact on the growth of the activated carbon market. Due to uncertain production and supply & demand gap, the prices of activated carbon vary globally. This is considered the prime factor for the high cost of production.

Consumption of food products containing activated carbon leads to reduced absorption of vitamins, reduced drug absorption, and gastrointestinal side effects.

Country–wise Insights

Why the US is Creating High Demand for Activated Carbon?

US activated carbon market is anticipated to grow at a CAGR of 5.1% during the forecast period. Controlling the air population is the key factor for driving the activated carbon market in US.

Activated carbon is widely used by various industries and manufacturing plants for the purification of air. It helps to trap volatile organic compounds, molecules that are responsible for the odor, and some recognized as important air pollutants.

US holds the position of the largest pharmaceutical market across the globe, this has created high demand for activated carbon in US as it is applicable in purification purposes for a wide range of industrial liquid chemical and pharmaceutical compounds. Purification of amino acids, biodiesel, mineral acids, and active pharmaceutical ingredient are some of the applications where activated carbon is widely used.

Why China is Emerging as a Lucrative Market for Activated Carbon?

China activated carbon market is anticipated to grow at a CAGR of 5.3% in the forecast period. China holds over 50% of the market share in East Asia. China has emerged as the fastest–growing market for activated carbon.

China will lead the activated carbon market, both in terms of production as well as consumption. The increasing population in China along with increased consumer income is likely to create high demand for water and air purifier in the coming years. This will create high demand for activated carbon as it is widely used to remove impurities from the water and air.

Category–wise Insights

What Makes Powered Activated Carbon Most Accepted Form?

Powered activated carbon has been the fastest–growing form of activated carbon. Powered activated carbon is added early in the water treatment process to enable a period of sole contact time before other chemicals are added to the water stream.

The growing use of powered activated carbon in water treatment and pharmaceutical applications is likely to drive market growth in the coming years. Increased demand for powdered activated carbon is the major revenue–generating factor for the manufacturers.

Powered activated carbon is anticipated to capture over 1/4th of the market share in the activated carbon market.

Which Application is Likely to Capture Maximum Market Share?

Water treatment will capture the maximum market share in the activated carbon market. Activated carbon is widely used in water treatment plants for taste and odor control to ensure the removal of organic chemicals, bacteria, and dirt from water.

Granular activated carbon offers strong adsorbent properties. Its high surface area to volume ratio facilitates the ability to tackle a larger number of contaminants and can also be used in static beds or as part of the mobile filter system.

The granular activated carbon can be regularly moved with new or regenerated GAC at the top of the filter to deliver strong adsorption of containments. This is likely to create revenue–generating opportunities for the granular activated carbon manufacturers as well as suppliers.

The aforementioned factors are likely to create high demand for activated carbon from water purification applications.

Market Titans Key Strategies

Activated carbon market prominent players are Osaka Gas, Cabot Corporation, Kuraray, Calgon Carbon, Haycarb, Kureha Corporation, Donau Carbon GMBH

The activated carbon market is highly fragmented. Manufacturers are focusing on research and development activities to discover end–uses of activated carbon to boost the market. Also, market players are looking to integrate with governments across the globe for water treatment applications where activated carbon plays a crucial role in removing impurities from water.

Fact.MR has provided detailed information about the price points of key manufacturers of activated carbon positioned across regions, sales growth, production capacity, and speculative technological expansion, in the recently published report.

Segmentation of Activated Carbon Industry Research

• By Form :

  • Powdered
  • Granular
  • Pelletized
  • Extruded

• By Phase :

  • Liquid Phase
  • Gas Phase

• By Application :

  • Water & Wastewater Treatment
  • Food & Beverages
  • Pharmaceutical & Medical
  • Automotive
  • Air Purification
  • Gas Purification
  • Industrial Processing
  • Mining
  • Others

• By Region :

  • North America
  • Latin America
  • Europe
  • East Asia
  • South Asia & Oceania
  • MEA