Activated Carbon Market Research Report and Trends Forecasts 2022 Activated Carbon Industry Overview, Trends | Page 2

Activated Carbon Market: 2017 Global Industry Trend,
Profit, and Key Manufacturers Analysis Report
Introduction:
Global demand for activated carbon was about 1.65 million tons in 2016, up 6.7% from a year ago,
and recorded a CAGR of 6.3% during 2012-2016. As the public become increasingly aware of the harm
caused by air and water pollution to health, the demand for activated carbon all over the world will
continue to increase, approaching an estimated 2.10 million tons in 2021.
China, the world’s second largest consumer of activated carbon just behind the United States, needed
about 440,000 tons in 2016, accounting for 26.7% of the global total. Still in the stage of rapid
development, the country will witness a continued increase in the application of activated carbon in
industry, food & beverage, and sewage treatment with the demand for activated carbon nearing an
estimated 600,000 tons in 2021. Meanwhile, the country is also a big activated carbon producer
(about 670,000 tons in 2016 and close to 900,000 tons as predicted in 2021).
Activated carbon, according to the material, can be divided into wood-based, coal-based, coconut
shell-based, and nutshell-based ones. China produced about 430,000 tons of coal-based activated
carbon and over 200,000 tons of wood-based activated carbon in 2016. Due to environmental
protection and supply-side reform in the coa l industry, the output of coal-based activated carbon will
decline, while that of wood-based and coconut shell-based activated carbons will rise steadily.