Activated Carbon Market Report 2026

The activated carbon market size has grown rapidly in recent years. It will grow from $8.07 billion in 2025 to $9.26 billion in 2026 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 14.8%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to expansion of municipal water treatment facilities, growth of industrial pollution control, increasing use in mining and metal recovery, rising demand for odor control solutions, availability of carbonaceous raw materials.

The activated carbon market size is expected to see rapid growth in the next few years. It will grow to $15.71 billion in 2030 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 14.1%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to increasing investments in clean water infrastructure, rising demand for air purification systems, expansion of pharmaceutical purification applications, growing focus on sustainable carbon sources, increasing adoption in electric vehicle air filtration. Major trends in the forecast period include increasing demand for water and air purification solutions, rising use of activated carbon in industrial emission control, growing adoption in food and beverage processing, expansion of renewable carbon sources, enhanced focus on high-adsorption materials.

he growth of the automotive industry is expected to drive the expansion of the activated carbon market. The automotive sector involves the design, manufacture, and sale of motor vehicles, including cars, trucks, motorcycles, and their components, along with supporting infrastructure. Rising consumer demand for advanced, technology-rich vehicles is fueling the industry’s growth. Activated carbon is utilized in the automotive sector for capturing fuel vapors and purifying air in emission control systems and cabin filtration. For example, in January 2024, the European Automobile Manufacturers Association reported that the EU car market grew by 13.9% in 2023 compared to 2022, reaching total annual sales of 10.5 million vehicles. Therefore, the expansion of the automotive industry is propelling demand for activated carbon.

Major companies in the activated carbon market are emphasizing technological advancements, such as the use of coconut shell-based activated carbon, to improve adsorption efficiency and sustainability in their products. Coconut shell-based activated carbon is derived from coconut shells. For instance, in May 2024, Indcarb Activated Carbon Private Limited, an India-based manufacturer of coconut shell-based activated carbon, launched inline water filters. These filtration systems are installed directly into water supply lines, allowing for continuous purification as water flows through. Inline water filters utilize coconut shell-based activated carbon along with various filtration media to effectively remove impurities, contaminants, chlorine, and odors, ensuring clean and safe drinking water. Indcarb aims to market these filters as high-performing options for health-conscious consumers, tapping into the growing demand for reliable water purification systems.

In June 2023, Desotec, a European mobile filtration solutions provider, acquired Evoqua Water Technologies' carbon reactivation business to enter the North American market. Evoqua Water Technologies, a US-based company, specializes in high-quality virgin and reactivated carbons sourced from bituminous coal, coconut shell, and anthracite coal for water and wastewater treatment solutions. The acquisition amount remains undisclosed.

Major companies operating in the activated carbon market are Calgon Carbon Corporation, Cabot Corporation, Kuraray Co., Ltd., Haycarb PLC, Donau Carbon GmbH, Osaka Gas Chemicals Co., Ltd., Jacobi Carbons AB, Chemviron Carbon, CarboTech ACG GmbH, Carbon Resources, LLC, Ingevity Corporation, Oxbow Activated Carbon LLC, Kureha Corporation, Desotec NV, Silcarbon Aktivkohle GmbH, CPL Activated Carbons Ltd., ADA-ES, Inc., Norit Nederland B.V., Evoqua Water Technologies Corp., TIGG LLC.

Asia-Pacific was the largest region in the activated carbon market in 2025. North America was the second largest market in the activated carbon market. The regions covered in the activated carbon market report are Asia-Pacific, South East Asia, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, Africa. The countries covered in the activated carbon market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Taiwan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain.

The activated carbon market consists of sales of catalytic activated carbon and impregnated activated carbon. Values in this market are ‘factory gate’ values, that is the value of goods sold by the manufacturers or creators of the goods, whether to other entities (including downstream manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors, and retailers) or directly to end customers. The value of goods in this market includes related services sold by the creators of the goods.

The market value is defined as the revenues that enterprises gain from the sale of goods and/or services within the specified market and geography through sales, grants, or donations in terms of the currency (in USD unless otherwise specified).

The revenues for a specified geography are consumption values that are revenues generated by organizations in the specified geography within the market, irrespective of where they are produced. It does not include revenues from resales along the supply chain, either further along the supply chain or as part of other products.

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