Pelletized Activated Carbon Market- Global Industry Size, Share, Trends, Opportunity, and Forecast, Segmented by Raw Materials (Coal, Wood, Coconut Shell, Lignite, Bamboo, Paddy Husk, and Others), By Application (Water & Wastewater Treatment, Air & Gas Treatment, Mercury Removal, Catalyst, Metal Recovery, Filter, and Others), By End User (Automotive, Food & Beverage, Pharmaceutical, Chemical, Agriculture, Power, Mining, Oil & Gas, and Others), By Region and competition 2021-2031F

Forecast Period	2027-2031
Market Size (2025)	USD 6.43 Billion
CAGR (2026-2031)	4.39%
Fastest Growing Segment	Water & Wastewater Treatment
Largest Market	Asia Pacific
Market Size (2031)	USD 8.32 Billion

Market Overview

The Global Pelletized Activated Carbon Market will grow from USD 6.43 Billion in 2025 to USD 8.32 Billion by 2031 at a 4.39% CAGR. Pelletized activated carbon is defined as an extruded, cylindrical adsorbent characterized by high mechanical strength and low airflow resistance, primarily utilized in gas-phase filtration and catalyst support applications. The market is fundamentally supported by stringent environmental regulations mandating the removal of mercury and volatile organic compounds from industrial emissions, alongside a resurgence in manufacturing activities that require process purification. According to the American Chemistry Council, in 2024, global chemical production was projected to expand by 3.4%, underscoring the sustained industrial demand for these critical emission control materials.

Despite this positive trajectory, a significant challenge facing the market is the volatility of raw material costs, particularly for bituminous coal and coconut shells. Fluctuations in the availability and price of these primary inputs, often driven by supply chain constraints, create financial instability for manufacturers and can impede the widespread adoption of pelletized solutions in cost-sensitive industrial sectors.

Key Market Drivers

Increasing utilization in natural gas and biogas purification processes has emerged as a primary catalyst for the Global Pelletized Activated Carbon Market, driven by the global shift toward renewable energy sources. As industries and municipalities increasingly convert organic waste into energy, the demand for high-grade pelletized carbon to remove corrosive impurities such as hydrogen sulfide and siloxanes from biogas streams has surged. This material is essential for upgrading raw biogas into pipeline-quality Renewable Natural Gas (RNG), protecting downstream equipment and ensuring compliance with gas grid specifications. According to the American Biogas Council, February 2025, in the '2024 Biogas Industry Market Data', 95% of the 125 new biogas projects that came online in 2024 were specifically built to upgrade their biogas to RNG, underscoring the critical role of filtration media in this expanding sector.

Simultaneously, the enforcement of rigorous automotive evaporative emission standards continues to propel market growth, particularly as global vehicle manufacturing recovers. Stricter regulations require advanced carbon canisters capable of capturing gasoline vapors with higher efficiency, directly boosting the consumption of specialized pelletized adsorbents. This trend is evident in the performance of major specialty material manufacturers who supply the automotive sector. According to Ingevity Corporation, November 2025, in the 'Third Quarter 2025 Financial Results', Performance Materials sales increased 3% to $155.0 million, driven primarily by volume growth reflecting improved global auto production. Broader industrial demand also remains a key support pillar; according to the American Chemistry Council, in 2025, global chemical production expanded by 2.6%, further sustaining the need for emission control technologies across the manufacturing landscape.

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Key Market Challenges

The volatility of raw material costs, particularly for bituminous coal and coconut shells, constitutes a formidable barrier to the growth of the global pelletized activated carbon market. Manufacturers operate in an environment of financial instability caused by the fluctuating availability and pricing of these essential inputs. When supply chains are constrained, production expenses rise unpredictably, eroding profit margins and complicating the formulation of competitive long-term pricing strategies. This economic uncertainty discourages manufacturers from expanding capacity and deters cost-sensitive industrial clients from transitioning to pelletized filtration systems.

These supply-side constraints directly impede market momentum by creating scarcity and driving up prices for finished adsorbents. A consistent feedstock supply is critical for meeting the rising industrial demand for purification, yet primary production levels remain variable, restricting the raw material base required for extrusion. According to the National Mining Association, in 2024, total U.S. coal production reached 512.5 million short tons. This finite availability of key carbon sources limits the industry’s ability to scale output efficiently, thereby hampering broader market penetration and slowing the overall growth trajectory despite strict environmental mandates.

Key Market Trends

Manufacturers are increasingly shifting from traditional coal-based raw materials to renewable coconut shells to produce harder, more durable pellets with superior microporosity and lower ash content. This transition is primarily driven by the critical need for high-purity adsorbents capable of withstanding mechanical attrition in regenerative systems while meeting stringent sustainability mandates. The strategic move toward utilizing these denser, plant-based feedstocks not only enhances the physical longevity of the media but also aligns production with global environmental goals. The scale of this feedstock evolution is evident in the financial performance of category leaders; according to Haycarb PLC, June 2025, in the 'Annual Report 2024/25', the company reported a resilient revenue of Rs. 43.2 billion, underscoring the substantial global market demand for premium coconut-shell based filtration media.

Industrial preference is decisively favoring reactivated carbon pellets over virgin materials to reduce operational costs, minimize waste disposal, and support circular economy sustainability goals. This trend is reshaping procurement strategies as operators adopt closed-loop service models where spent carbon is thermally regenerated for reuse, significantly lowering the carbon footprint associated with industrial purification processes. The rapid expansion of this service-oriented segment is reflected in the growth of specialized providers; according to Desotec, July 2025, in the '2024 Annual Accounts', the firm generated a turnover of €148.9 million, highlighting the robust and increasing industrial reliance on circular mobile filtration and reactivation solutions.

Segmental Insights

The Water & Wastewater Treatment segment currently registers the fastest growth within the Global Pelletized Activated Carbon Market. This expansion is primarily driven by stringent environmental mandates enforced by regulatory entities such as the United States Environmental Protection Agency that necessitate rigorous purification standards for industrial and municipal effluents. Consequently, industries are increasingly adopting pelletized activated carbon due to its durability and effectiveness in removing organic contaminants from water supplies. The heightened global emphasis on water reclamation and pollution control further accelerates the demand for these filtration materials in treatment facilities.

Regional Insights

Asia Pacific stands as the dominant region in the Global Pelletized Activated Carbon Market, driven by extensive industrial activity and stringent environmental enforcement. The region’s leadership is reinforced by the abundant local supply of raw materials, including coal and coconut shells, which facilitates cost-effective manufacturing. Demand is further accelerated by rigorous air quality mandates established by institutions such as China’s Ministry of Ecology and Environment, compelling industries to adopt effective emission control systems. Consequently, the manufacturing and automotive sectors increasingly utilize pelletized activated carbon for its superior mechanical strength and efficiency in gas-phase applications, particularly for the removal of volatile organic compounds.

Recent Developments

• In October 2024, Desotec commissioned its new PF5 production facility in Roeselare, Belgium. This facility was specifically designed to recycle high-sulphur loaded spent activated carbon, which is widely used in the biogas industry for desulphurization. The new plant enables the company to process this challenging waste stream and produce high-quality, renewable activated carbon pellets that perform on par with virgin material. This development closed the loop for biogas filtration solutions, reducing the reliance on imported coal-based carbon and significantly lowering the carbon footprint of the purification process.
• In October 2024, Haycarb PLC’s subsidiary, Haycarb Philippines Corporation, signed a long-term lease agreement with the PHIVIDEC Industrial Authority to establish a new activated carbon manufacturing facility in Misamis Oriental, Philippines. The project, involving an initial investment of approximately USD 8 million, was approved to expand the company’s production capacity for coconut shell-based activated carbon. This expansion was undertaken to address the increasing global demand for high-quality filtration media, including pelletized forms used in industrial air and water treatment applications, while securing a stable supply of raw materials.
• In May 2024, Calgon Carbon Corporation, a subsidiary of Kuraray Co., Ltd., announced the acquisition of the industrial reactivated carbon business from Sprint Environmental Services, LLC. This strategic move included the takeover of an industrial carbon reactivation plant located near Houston, Texas, and the integration of its workforce. The acquisition was aimed at expanding Calgon Carbon’s capacity to meet the growing demand for sustainable recycling solutions, particularly in the industrial sector where reactivated pelletized carbon is essential for applications such as vapor recovery and environmental compliance.
• In January 2024, the Jacobi Group unveiled its proprietary Carbonizer technology at a launch event in Coimbatore, India. This new continuous carbonization machine allows for the sustainable production of high-quality coconut shell charcoal, a key raw material for pelletized activated carbon. The technology was designed to recover energy from the carbonization process, converting volatile gases into clean electricity to power the facility. This launch represented a significant breakthrough in reducing the carbon footprint of the company's supply chain and aligning its operations with global sustainability goals.

Key Market Players

• Calgon Carbon Corporation
• Evoqua Water Technologies LLC
• Siemens Water Technologies Corp
• Cabot Corporation
• Carbon Activated Corporation
• MeadWestvaco Corporation
• Carbon Resources LLC
• Carbotech AC GmbH

By Application	By End User	By Region
Water & Wastewater Treatment Air & Gas Treatment Mercury Removal Catalyst Metal Recovery Filter Others	Automotive Food & Beverage Pharmaceutical Chemical Agriculture Power Mining Oil & Gas Others	North America Europe Asia Pacific South America Middle East & Africa

Report Scope:

In this report, the Global Pelletized Activated Carbon Market has been segmented into the following categories, in addition to the industry trends which have also been detailed below:

• Pelletized Activated Carbon Market, By Application:

• Water & Wastewater Treatment
• Air & Gas Treatment
• Mercury Removal
• Catalyst
• Metal Recovery
• Filter
• Others

• Pelletized Activated Carbon Market, By End User:

• Automotive
• Food & Beverage
• Pharmaceutical
• Chemical
• Agriculture
• Power
• Mining
• Oil & Gas
• Others

• Pelletized Activated Carbon Market, By Region:

• North America
• United States
• Canada
• Mexico
• Europe
• France
• United Kingdom
• Italy
• Germany
• Spain
• Asia Pacific
• China
• India
• Japan
• Australia
• South Korea
• South America
• Brazil
• Argentina
• Colombia
• Middle East & Africa
• South Africa
• Saudi Arabia
• UAE