Activated Carbon Companies

Updated on : June 19, 2024

The market for activated carbon is approximated to be USD 4.46 billion in 2023, and it is projected to reach USD 8.41 billion by 2030 at a CAGR of 9.8%. The market is growing rapidly due to growing demand in air purification, water treatment, and industrial emissions control, applications. End-use industries are increasingly using activated carbon for mercury removal, VOC adsorption, and wastewater treatment, driven by stricter environmental regulations such as the EU Water Framework Directive and others

Acquisitions and collaborations are two key strategies adopted by major players in the activated carbon market. For instance, Ingevity acquired Nexon Limited, while Evoqua Water Technologies acquired Texas Water Treatment Service to strengthen their activated carbon business segment. In terms of collaboration, Haycarb PLC partnered with the Coconut Research Institute of Sri Lanka to enhance research and development in activated carbon production.

Activated Carbon Companies

The demand for activated carbon is mainly furnished by global players manufacturing for various end-use applications. Some of the leading companies involved in the activated carbon are SLB (US), Veolia (France), BASF SE (Germany), The Dow Chemical Company (US), Clariant (Switzerland), Baker Hughes Company (US), Umicore (Belgium), The Lubrizol Corporation (US), Vink Chemicals GmbH & Co. KG (Germany), Merichem Technologies (US), Q2 Technologies (US), and Venus Ethoxyethers Pvt. Ltd. (India). These companies, amongst many other regional players, fulfill the requirements globally for activated carbon.

The Osaka Gas Group has transitioned to a new identity as the Daigas Group. In 2018, the company introduced its fresh group brand, "Daigas Group." The company is involved in natural gas production and operates across multiple sectors. The Domestic Energy segment focuses on manufacturing, supplying, and selling city gas, gas appliances, liquefied natural gas, liquefied petroleum gas, industrial gas, and electricity generation. The International Energy segment is dedicated to natural gas and petroleum developments and investments, along with the leasing of transport tankers. The Life and Business Solutions segment provides information processing services and markets fine materials and carbon products.

Kuraray Co., Ltd. specializes in manufacturing functional resins, high-performance materials, fibers & textiles, medical products, and synthetic rayon. The company operates through multiple segments, including Vinyl Acetate, Functional Materials, Isoprene, Trading, Fibers and Textiles, and Other Businesses. Within the Functional Materials segment, Kuraray Co., Ltd. produces activated carbon as part of its Environmental Solutions Division. In the Vinyl Acetate segment, the company domestically manufactures polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) resin, optical PVA film, and EVAL gas barriers. The Isoprene segment is dedicated to the production of isoprene, fine chemicals, GENESTAR, SEPTON, liquid rubber, and KURARITY acrylic thermoplastic elastomer. Under the Functional Materials segment, various products such as methacrylic resin, CLARINO, and dental materials are offered for the medical business. The Fibers and Textiles segment includes the sale of products like KURALON, polyester staples, KURAFLEX, hook and loop fasteners, among others. The Trading segment is involved in importing, exporting, and wholesaling fibers and textiles, including polyester filament and chemicals.

Haycarb PLC is a prominent manufacturer and marketer of coconut shell-activated carbon, operating across two segments: Activated Carbon and Environmental Engineering. The company offers a diverse range of activated carbon products, including standard, washed, and impregnated granular, powder, and extruded pellet varieties. These products cater to various applications in water treatment, air treatment, gold recovery, the food and beverage industry, energy storage, and more.

Norit offers an extensive array of products, services, and technical assistance, primarily specializing in activated carbon solutions. These solutions serve diverse industries such as water treatment, food & beverage, dairy, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, sweeteners, and remediation. In addition to its range of activated carbon products, Norit offers reactivated activated carbon, mobile filters, and powdered carbon dosing units. After being acquired by Cabot Corporation in 2012, Norit regained independence in 2022 and was subsequently acquired by One Equity Partners, with a renewed focus solely on its activated carbon business.

Kureha Corporation specializes in manufacturing and distributing chemical products tailored for pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, and packaging materials. The company operates across several segments: Advanced Materials, Specialty Chemicals, Specialty Plastics, Construction, and Other Operations. Within the Advanced Materials segment, Kureha produces polyphenylene sulfide (PPS) resin, polyvinylidene fluoride, and carbon products. The Specialty Chemicals segment focuses on developing and marketing industrial chemicals, pharmaceutical products, and pesticides. Specialty Plastics include food packaging materials and household goods. The Construction segment provides construction and engineering services, while the Other Operations segment encompasses environmental-related businesses and logistics operations

Other companies have initiated the following developments:

• In March 2023, Evoqua Water Technologies LLC acquired the Texas-based industrial water treatment service business of Bob Johnson & Associates from Kemco Systems to further strengthen its footprint in North America.
• In June 2022, Albemarle Corporation announced that it is expected to restructure its Bromine and Lithium global business units (GBUs) as part of a new corporate framework aimed at enhancing its ability to meet customer demands and cultivate the necessary talent to thrive in a competitive global landscape. This decision was announced after the company's recent announcement to reorganize its Catalyst division under a yet-to-be-named, wholly owned subsidiary.
• In August 2022, Ingevity acquired Nexeon Limited to establish its presence in the electric vehicle (EV) market and expand opportunities for its existing activated carbon business.

MARKET RANKING:

The activated carbon market is fragmented, and an approximately 20-25% share of the market is accounted for by Tier 1 players and the remaining by other players with limited portfolios. Kuraray Co., Ltd. (Japan), Daigas Group (Japan), Haycarb PLC (Sri Lanka), Norit (Netherlands), and Kureha Corporation (Japan), were the leading players in the activated carbon market in 2022. These players have adopted substantial strategic developments to support their business expansions, R&D investments, and develop competitive product portfolios. The activated carbon market is competitive.

Related Reports:

Activated Carbon Market by Type (Powdered Activated Carbon, Granular Activated Carbon), Application (Liquid Phase Application, and Gas Phase Application), End-Use Industry, Raw Material (Coal, Coconut, Wood, Peat), and Region - Global Forecast to 2030