The global activated carbon market is anticipated to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.5% during the forecast period.
The main factors driving the activated carbon market are the stringent regulations imposed on wastewater treatment by various countries, such as the United States, Germany, and the United Kingdom. For instance, the EU Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive was recently revised in April 2024. Its main objective includes the reduction of pollution of surface waters and groundwater by wastewater and the promotion of sustainable wastewater treatment.
The Powdered Activated Carbon (PAC) usually has a particle size distribution ranging from 80-325mesh. Powdered activated carbon (PAC) is mostly made from peat, bituminous coal, coconut shells, wood, and lignite coal. It is mostly utilized for liquid-phase adsorption. The high surface area and larger pore volume allow for the effective removal of color bodies with minimal carbon dose. PAC has wide application areas, such as residential and municipal water treatment, pharmaceutical product purification, decolorization in the food and beverage industry, and many other applications. The growth in these industries is directly influencing the demand for powdered activated carbon, thereby making it the fastest-growing type in the market.
Activated carbon is used to remove hydrocarbons or volatile organic content (VOC) and process gases like natural gas, hydrogen, and carbon dioxide, along with other contaminants. This factor makes it a crucial component for industries where purified gas is required for various processes. Activated carbon is also used to remove pollutants like hydrogen sulfide (H2S) and ammonia (NH3) from biogas. All these factors contribute to the growing consumption of activated carbon and are anticipated to drive its demand during the forecast period.
In the food industry, carbon dioxide (CO2) is used in various processes and in carbonated drinks. The carbon used in the food industry should be odor and sulfur-free. Carbon dioxide produced by the fermentation process is treated with activated carbon to meet food standard purity requirements. Owing to the above-mentioned factor, gas purification is projected to be the fastest-growing application for the activated carbon market.
Activated carbon is a versatile and environmentally friendly porous material with increasing applications across various fields. These materials offer various desirable properties, such as adjustable porosity, light weight, electrical conductivity, chemical and physical stability, and the ability to take on different forms or shapes.
At a global level, water treatment applications account for nearly 38% of the total consumption of activated carbon, making it the largest application area. Air and gas purification follows closely, accounting for 25% of the total consumption. Food processing applications come next, representing 12% of the total consumption, followed by the pharmaceutical sector. Activated carbon utilization as a super adsorbent has observed a spike in the food and pharmaceutical industry over the study period.
The United States and Europe are the largest pharmaceutical markets, and these two regions combined contribute to nearly 80% of sales of new medicines launched during 2016 and 2021. India, Brazil, and China are some of the emerging economies in the pharmaceutical sector and are anticipated to be major growth drivers for the sector during the forecast period. Owing to these factors, the global demand for activated carbon is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.5% during the forecast period, with the fastest growth observed in the pharmaceutical industry.
The major economies like China, Japan, India, and South Korea dominate the Asia-Pacific region. Some of the fastest-growing emerging economies are from this region, such as the ASEAN countries. India and China have about 35.5% of the world's population, yet their limited water reserves account for only 4% and 7%, respectively. Rapid urbanization and industrialization have posed a grave challenge for these countries to meet their water requirements.
This growing demand for wastewater treatment in China and India is expected to boost the demand for activated carbon in these countries, thereby contributing to the global demand for activated carbon.
| Report Metric | Details |
|---|---|
| Study Period | 2021 to 2031 |
| Historical Data | 2021 to 2024 |
| Base Year | 2025 |
| Forecast Period | 2026 – 2031 |
| Report Metric | Details |
| Growth Rate | CAGR of 7.5% |
| Study Period | 2019 to 2029 |
| Historical Data | 2019 to 2022 |
| Base Year | 2023 |
| Forecast Period | 2024 – 2029 |
| Forecast Unit (Value) | USD Billion |
| Segmentation |
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| Geographical Segmentation | North America, South America, Europe, Middle East and Africa, Asia Pacific |
| List of Major Companies in Activated Carbon Market |
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| Customization Scope | Free report customization with purchase |