Major players in the activated carbon market are Calgon Carbon Corporation, Haycarb PLC, Kureha Corporation, Donau Carbon GmbH, Silcarbon Aktivkohle GmbH, Puragen LLC, Universal Carbons, Adsorbent Carbons, Shinkwang Chem Ind Co Ltd, and Century Chemical Works Sdn Bhd.
The global activated carbon market is expected to grow from $4.8 billion in 2021 to $5.4 billion in 2022 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 12.5%. The market is expected to grow to $8.73 billion in 2026 at a CAGR of 12.8%.
The activated carbon market consists of sales of activated carbon by entities (organizations, sole traders, and partnerships) that manufacture activated carbon.Activated carbon is used to purify gases and liquids in a variety of applications such as municipal drinking water, industrial pollution control, food and beverage processing, and odor removal.
It also helps in de-colorization and solvent purification in industrial sectors such as chemical, petrochemical, mining, and automotive. Activated carbon is produced from carbonaceous sources such as nutshells, coal, coconut, wood, and peat.
The main types of activated carbons are powdered activated carbon, polymer-coated activated carbon, granular activated carbon, bead activated carbon, extruded or pelletized activated carbon, and other types.Powdered activated carbon is referred to as a high-performance absorbent that is used to remove harmful contaminants in gas, air, and liquid phases.
It can be used to provide clean water that is safe to drink.The various applications of activated carbons include liquid phase applications, gas phase applications, metal extraction, medicine, and other applications.
The main end-uses of activated carbons are water treatment, food and beverage processing, pharmaceutical and medical, automotive, air purification, and Other End Users.
The Asia Pacific was the largest region in the activated carbon market in 2021.North America was the second-largest market in the activated carbon market.
The regions covered in the activated carbon report are Asia-Pacific, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, and Africa.
The growing demand for clean water is expected to drive the growth of the activated carbon market.Rapid urbanization and industrialization are surging demand for clean water and activated carbon, as activated carbon is a key ingredient in water purification.
According to the United Nations World Water Development Report, nearly 6 billion people are expected to suffer from the lack of clean water by 2050. Therefore, the increasing need for clean water and clean water scarcity is expected to generate high demand for activated carbon for water purification in the forecast period.
Price fluctuation in raw materials is anticipated to restrain the market for activated carbon in the forecast period.The shortage of raw materials such as coconut shell charcoal leads to an increase in raw material costs, resulting in higher manufacturing costs.
The increasing costs of some grades of activated carbon would act as a restraint for the market in the forecast period.
Strategic initiatives such as technological advancements and innovative product development are gaining significant popularity in the activated carbon market.The companies are increasingly focusing on developing new innovative products such as honeycomb activated carbon which is environmentally friendly and is designed to be powerful and flexible for large area purification.
Honeycomb-activated carbon is a highly effective carbon that is used to remove unpleasant odors and pollutant particles.For instance, in January 2021, Tantech, a China-based company launched a variety of combination honeycomb activated carbon.
Other innovative products include activated carbon masks by Sweden-based Jacobi Carbon, for clear air delivery. The mask uses activated carbon in combination with dust aerosol and other particulate matter filtration systems for cleaning the air and can also be used as a mask.
In October 2020, Brenntag SE, a Germany-based chemical and ingredients distribution company signed an agreement to acquire Comelt S.p.A and its subsidiary Aquadepur S.R.L. for an undisclosed amount. With the acquisition of Comelt S.p.A., Brenntag plans to expand the local and international business for activated carbon. Moreover, the acquisition of Comelt S.p.A is expected to help the company better assist customers with meeting their sustainability objectives. Comelt S.p.A is an Italy-based company engaged in processing, marketing, and distribution of activated and re-activated carbon for various applications such as water purification and filtration of the flue and air gas.
The countries covered in the activated carbon market are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Russia, South Korea, the UK, and the USA.