Activated Carbon Market is Trending Due to Rising Demand for Water Treatment Applications

The global activated carbon market is used widely in a variety of applications owing to its high porosity and adsorption properties. Activated carbon is applied for water treatment, food & beverage processing, medical & pharmaceutical, automotive, and other industrial applications. It is highly effective in removing impurities, odours, and toxins from gas or liquid streams.

The global activated carbon market is estimated to be valued at US$ 9.23 Bn in 2024 and is expected to exhibit a CAGR of 9.7% over the forecast period from 2024 to 2031.

Activated carbon is manufactured from raw materials such as coal, coconut shell, wood and lignin. It has a highly porous structure that facilitates enhanced adsorption capability of gases and liquids onto its surface. Its unique adsorption properties make activated carbon effective in water and wastewater treatment applications to remove toxins, heavy metals and impurities. It is used to purify drinking water and manufacturing processes across industries. The growth of the water treatment industry driven by increasing water pollution levels is expected to drive demand for activated carbon.

Key Takeaways

Key players operating in the activated carbon market are Carbon Activated Corporation, Jacobi Carbons Group, Boyce Carbon, CarbPure Technologies, Cabot Corporation, Kuraray Co., Carbo Tech AC GmbH, Donau Chemicals AG, Haycarb (Pvt) Ltd., Kureha Corporation, Osaka Gas Chemicals Co., Ltd., Evoqua Water Technologies LLC, Oxbow Activated Carbon LLC, Hangzhou Nature Technology Co., Ltd., Datong Coal Jinding Activated Carbon Co., Carb USA, and Sorbent JSC.

The growing demand for clean drinking water due to rising global population and urbanization is driving the activated Activated Carbon Market Demand Stringent regulations regarding waste water treatment is also propelling market growth.

Rising environmental concerns have led to expansion of activated carbon manufacturing facilities across regions globally. The market is witnessing investments towards development of advanced production technologies.

Market Key Trends

Rice Activated Carbon Market Size And Trends hulls are emerging as a key raw material for activated carbon production due to their high silica content and porous structure. Rice husk-based activated carbon has low ash content and is effective for filtration applications. Leading players are investing in R&D to utilize agricultural waste such as rice husks for sustainable activated carbon manufacturing. This is expected to be a major trend in the global market over the coming years.

Porter’s Analysis

Threat of new entrants: New entrants have to invest large capital costs to set up production and distribution facilities.

Bargaining power of buyers: Buyers have moderate bargaining power due to availability of substitutes like silica gel and zeolites.

Bargaining power of suppliers: Suppliers have moderate bargaining power due to availability of alternative raw materials like coconut shells, wood, coal, and lignite.

Threat of new substitutes: Substitutes like silica gel and zeolites pose moderate threat.

Competitive rivalry: Market is competitive with presence of global and regional players.

North America currently holds the largest share of the activated carbon market, followed by Asia Pacific and Europe. Wide applications in water treatment, food & beverage processing, pharmaceutical & medical, and others have led to high consumption of activated carbon in the United States and Canada. Activated carbon plays a vital role in removal of contaminants and purification of water and air and is widely used across industrial sectors in these regions.

The activated carbon market in Asia Pacific is projected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period. Rapid industrialization, growing population, and stringent environmental regulations regarding air and water pollution are driving the market in Asia Pacific countries like China, India, Japan, and South Korea. Growing demand from end-use industries such as food & beverage processing, automotive, pharmaceutical & medical, and chemicals manufacturing is expected to support market growth in Asia Pacific in the coming years.