Global demand for activated carbon — including powdered, granular, and other types — is expected to rise 6.0 percent per year to 1.9 million metric tons in 2020. Growth will be led by China and other developing countries in the Asia/Pacific and Africa/Mideast regions, driven by improved drinking water treatment, increasing motor vehicle ownership rates, and rising manufacturing and environmental standards. Gains will also be supported by the continued implementation of environmental regulations in the US, Canada, Western Europe, and Japan. These and other trends are presented in World Activated Carbon, a new study from The Freedonia Group, a Cleveland-based industry research firm.
Activated carbon demand is strongly influenced by regulations and trends in manufacturing. In industrial air treatment, mercury removal standards at coal-fired power plants have been a major contributor to growth in demand for powdered activated carbon. While growth in this segment in the US is expected to decelerate going forward as the nation’s Mercury and Air Toxics Standards are fully implemented, markets in Western Europe and other developed areas will continue to show healthy gains. “In water treatment, regulations such as those related to disinfection byproducts will continue to support activated carbon demand in industrialized countries, while increasing efforts to improve the quality and reliability of drinking water will be a major driver of growth in industrializing nations,” noted analyst Emily Park.
The fastest gains in activated carbon demand are expected in the Asia/Pacific region, where growth will be supported by increasing populations, rising manufacturing output and higher manufacturing standards, and greater attention to environmental issues such as air and water quality. China will account for the majority of gains, although India and other developing markets will also exhibit robust growth. Activated carbon production in this region is expected to increase in response to growing regional and global demand.
World Activated Carbon (published 04/2016, 423 pages) is available for $6500 from The Freedonia Group. For further details or to arrange an interview with the analyst, please contact Corinne Gangloff by phone 440.684.9600 or email pr@freedoniagroup.com. Information may also be obtained through www.freedoniagroup.com.
About The Freedonia Group
The Freedonia Group is a leading international industrial research company publishing more than 100 studies annually. Since 1985 we have provided research to customers ranging in size from global conglomerates to one-person consulting firms. More than 90% of the industrial companies in the Fortune 500 use Freedonia Group research to help with their strategic planning.
