Global Activated Carbon

8th Edition

When phase-in of the US Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (MATS) began, it was assumed that the activated carbon market would see robust growth over the next several years. Implementation has been delayed, however, and the US is expected to be one of the slowest growing markets for activated carbon in mercury removal worldwide through 2022. China, on the other hand, is stepping up its enforcement of environmental legislation, particularly air and water quality. As a result, China’s activated carbon market will see robust growth going forward.

How has the recent slowdown in the US affected merger and acquisition activity?

Which product type will post the fastest increase as interest in clean water and air grows in the developing world?

This study examines worldwide demand for virgin activated carbon (also called activated charcoal), including:

• powdered activated carbon
• granular activated carbon
• a variety of specialty activated carbon products (fiber, cloth, monoliths, etc.)

This study also includes reactivated carbon sold by suppliers, but excludes carbon reactivated on-site or through a reactivation service agreement. The term “regeneration” is used interchangeably with the term “desorption” to mean the removal of contaminants from activated carbon, while “reactivation” is used when discussing the destruction of contaminants and the recovery of adsorption capacity.

Demand is presented by product type, application, and geographic sector. Historical data are provided for 2007, 2012, and 2017, with forecasts for 2022. The term “demand” refers to “apparent consumption” and is defined as production (also referred to variously as “shipments”, “output”, or “supply”) from a country’s domestic manufacturing facilities plus imports, minus exports. “Demand” is used interchangeably with the terms “market”, “sales”, and “consumption”. Data are presented in thousands of metric tons and millions of US dollars.