USD 390.4 million
Activated Carbon Fiber (ACF) Market Size, Share, and Growth Analysis
Activated Carbon Fiber (ACF) Market By Raw Material (Natural, Synthetic), By Type (Cellulosic Fiber, PAN-based), By Application (Air Purification, Catalyst Carrier), By End-User Industry, By Region - Industry Forecast 2025-2032
Report ID:
SQMIG15E2382 |
Region:
Global |
Published Date: February, 2025
Pages:
184
|Tables:
64
|Figures:
75
Format -
Activated Carbon Fiber (ACF) Market Insights
Global Activated Carbon Fiber (ACF) Market size was valued at USD 390.4 million in 2023 and is poised to grow from USD 426.71 million in 2024 to USD 869.14 million by 2032, growing at a CAGR of 9.3% during the forecast period (2025-2032).
The Activated Carbon Fiber (ACF) market is experiencing robust growth driven by increasing demand for efficient filtration and purification solutions across various industries. Activated Carbon Fiber, known for its high surface area and adsorption capacity, is increasingly used in air and water purification, medical applications, and industrial processes. The surge in environmental regulations and growing awareness of pollution control are significant factors propelling market demand. The medical sector, particularly in developing regions, is witnessing heightened adoption of ACF for respiratory masks and other healthcare products, spurred by the global pandemic and ongoing health concerns.
Adsorption of dissolved organic contaminants and the removal of flavors and odor-altering chemicals are the main functions of the product. The use of activated carbon injection (ACI) technology has made the purification process more affordable. To reduce mercury emissions, these techniques are mostly utilized in cement kilns and power plants. Growing pollution as a result of emissions from product manufacturing has been a key market-driving driver in the Global Activated Carbon Fiber Market.
US Activated Carbon Fiber (ACF) Market is poised to grow at a sustainable CAGR for the next forecast year.
Market snapshot - 2025-2032
Global Market Size
Largest Segment
Synthetic
Fastest Growth
Natural
Growth Rate
9.3% CAGR
Global Activated Carbon Fiber (ACF) Market By Region ($ Bn)
Country Share for Asia Pacific Region (%)
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Activated Carbon Fiber (ACF) Market Segments Analysis
Global Activated Carbon Fiber (ACF) Market is segmented by Raw Material, Type, Application, End-User Industry and region. Based on Raw Material, the market is segmented into Natural and Synthetic. Based on Type, the market is segmented into Cellulosic Fiber, PAN-based, Phenolic Resin and Pitch-based. Based on Application, the market is segmented into Air Purification, Catalyst Carrier, Solvent Recovery and Water Treatment. Based on End-User Industry, the market is segmented into Healthcare, Oil & Gas and Water Treatment. Based on region, the market is segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America and Middle East & Africa.
Analysis by Material
The synthetic segment is dominating as well as fastest growing segment the activated charcoal market and is expected to reach USD 502.5 million by 2031. Growing at a CAGR of 9.0% during the forecast period, this market is also growing at a faster rate. Synthetic ACF holds the largest share in the market due to the fact that it offers consistent quality, enhanced adsorption properties, and scalability. In terms of precursors, synthetic ACF is manufactured from a variety of precursors, such as polyacrylonitrile and phenolic resin. Though at a higher production cost, it is the improved performance and purity of synthetic ACF, together with the functionality that can meet all of the most demanding industrial requirements, which has made this material of choice for a myriad of applications, thus assuring it of market dominance and rapid growth.
The natural fiber-based segment in the activated carbon fiber (ACF) market is coming up owing to its eco-friendly and highly effective adsorptive behavior. These ACFs developed from sources such as Metaplexis japonica seed hair fibers have highly adsorptive properties, which attributes to its high porosity, and graphite-like crystallite made through high temperature carbonization. The key factor in this segment is continually escalating concern for the environment and the use of environmentally friendly materials, along with the ability of natural fiber based ACFs to deliver superior performance in applications such as water purification and air filtration. Moreover, as sustainable packaged water has emerged as one of the most important market trends, the natural segment is expected to experience strong future growth.
Analysis by Application
Wastewater treatment dominating as well as fastest growing, accounted for the largest market share of USD 135.7 million in 2023. It is further mentioned that the said segment would grow at a higher growth rate and is forecasted to continue doing so with chances of reaching USD 274.5 million by 2031 at an estimated CAGR of 9.2%. With the growing concern towards water pollution, industries, and municipalities are rapidly investing in state-of-the-art treatment technologies, which eventually increases demand for activated carbon fiber solutions. Many technologies involved in water treatment will rapidly see an upsurge in demand At a CAGR of 7%, and ACF will not be an exception during 2023-2028. Expanding concern from industries and municipalities about water pollution and providing healthy drinking water will likely drive high demand for advanced and efficient treatment facilities. This growing trend in the market demands ACF due to its already proven worth in removing contaminants such as organic compounds from water.
The chemical separation & catalysis segment in the Activated Carbon Fiber (ACF) market is growing at a high Compound Annual Rate (CAGR) of approximately 8%. This segment is further boosted by the growing concern for enhanced and eco-friendly separation solutions in numerous market sectors like pharma, chemical, and water treatment. Due to the large surface area, high porosity, and chemical stability ACF is suitable for purification and the enhancement of catalytic processes. Advancements in the chemical treatment process and stringent laws concerning emissions are also driving ACF growth in this segment. This segment has also been rising due to improvements in the regeneration of catalysts as well as the requirement of refined chemical outputs.
Global Activated Carbon Fiber (ACF) Market By Material
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Activated Carbon Fiber (ACF) Market Regional Insights
The Asia-Pacific dominating as well as fastest growing region in this market with a share of 57.5%, driven by rapid industrialization and stringent environmental regulations, coupled with growing demand for clean water and air. It is also considered one of the fastest-growing regions in the activated charcoal market globally. Growth in this region is driven by investments in high-end filtration technologies such as activated carbon fiber, with robust manufacturing capabilities and rapidly expanding consumer markets. It can steal the lead in the forecast period, also, due to China and India being two of the major consumers, particularly for applications involving water treatment. China is projected to account for USD 297.43 million, followed by India, which is expected to contribute USD 48.89 million by 2031. Exponential growth in population in the Asia-Pacific region has boosted demand for pure and safe drinkable water. Due to the low cost and easy availability of raw materials, the market will grow.
North America is second fastest growing segment in activated carbon fiber market. This expansion is to meet the growing demand in several industries such as water treatment, air filtration and chemicals. Stringent environmental regulations and growing awareness of pollution control further fuel the adoption of activated carbon fibers. The United States of America and Canada are among the largest contributors as they have industries that are well developed along with modern technical support systems. The regions have been strengthened by research and development regarding the market along with the support of key market players. Market evolution is still being driven by existing strategies and the innovation for sustainable solutions in North America.
Global Activated Carbon Fiber (ACF) Market By Region
- Largest
- Fastest
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Activated Carbon Fiber (ACF) Market Dynamics
Activated Carbon Fiber (ACF) Market Drivers
Increasing Demand for Water Treatment Application
- The demand for the product is expanding along with the demand for clean, safe drinking water. The characteristics of the product, particularly the high surface area accessible for adsorption that readily eliminates contaminants including oils, microorganisms, odor- and taste-giving substances, and chemicals, may be credited for the Global Activated Carbon Fiber Market's expansion. High consumer demand for freshwater is being driven by an exponentially growing population, which has raised the need for water filtration systems. Government officials have been forced to enact strict laws on handling industrial wastewater due to rising levels of water contamination. As a result, the need for charcoal to remove pollutants has increased as several businesses, including paper & pulp, chemicals, and paints & dyes, have been ordered to add water treatment units into their facilities.
Increasing Public Awareness Regarding Health Risks Associated with Poor IAQ
- Demand for advanced air filtration systems is also driven by growing public awareness of the health risks associated with poor IAQ. This sort of increase is highly influenced by a set of studies showing that indoor pollutants are connected with such serious diseases or illnesses as respiratory diseases, cardiovascular problems, and even cancer. This increases consumer demand for some kind of robust air filtration solutions in order to reduce the risk; this places ACF as one of the most critical materials in the market. In that sense, application of ACF in air filtration systems showed several advantages owing to the adsorption capacity of ACF according to the deep study carried out by SkyQuest. ACF proves quite effective at removing many types of indoor pollutants, including VOCs such as toluene, benzene, o-xylene, 1-butanol, limonene, undecane, and formaldehyde. These latter indoor pollutants can, as also above-mentioned, independently emanate from sources such as cleaning agents, building materials, and furniture, usually found in many residential buildings and even in commercial buildings. This makes the compounds adsorbed by ACF an imperative constituent of IAQ improvement.
Restraints
ACF Faces Competition from Well-established and Cost-effective Alternatives
- One of the major challenges to ACF is the firmly established, more cost-effective alternatives in existence to ACF, such as the activated carbon powder or beads. To overcome these sunset options, one needs to make a good value proposition to justify their higher costs vis-à-vis the ACF. This competition poses a significant challenge to the global ACF market, which has to prove better performance and cost-effectiveness if it is to capture considerable market share. Furthermore, our research suggests that in many industries, activated carbon powder and beads have been the preference all along due to lower associated costs of production and wide availability. These conventional forms of activated carbon have well-developed supply chains and are very familiar to a large user base; efficacy has already been proven in many applications, making them fiercely competitive to ACF. Decades of experience in the cost-effective solutions to various industries, among them water treatment, air purification, and chemical processing, have created a quite stiff barrier to market entry for many of the newer materials, ACF included.
Hike in Prices Due to Raw Material Shortage
- The shortage of certain raw materials utilized in production, such as coconut shell charcoal, is a risk factor in the Global Activated Carbon Fiber Market's growth. As a result, the price of raw materials has increased, with coconut shell charcoal seeing the biggest increase. Prices of products made from coal have gone up as a result of rising energy demands. The decrease in demand for coconuts has had an impact on producers' operational output, which has prompted manufacturers to expand production capacity by 50% to 60%, leading to a rise in product prices.
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Activated Carbon Fiber (ACF) Market Competitive Landscape
High levels of competition are a result of the market's large number of multinational players. These businesses eagerly anticipate spending money on R&D to differentiate their products. Governments and businesses are working to promote the product's use in the main end-use industries. Activated carbon market growth is anticipated to be aided by all of these factors over the upcoming forecast period.
Cabot Corporation is one of the businesses that has completely integrated their processes. The processes for obtaining raw materials, making products, and distributing them are all completely integrated. Companies use a full integration strategy to reduce the risk associated with sourcing raw materials and to impose stringent quality standards on production.
Top Players in Activated Carbon Fiber (ACF) Market
- Osaka Gas Chemicals Co., Ltd. (Japan)
- Kuraray Co., Ltd. (Japan)
- Unitika Ltd. (Japan)
- Anshan Sinocarb Carbon Fibers Co. Ltd. (China)
- Toyobo Co., Ltd. (Japan)
- SGL Carbon (Germany)
- Showa Denko K.K. (Japan)
- Mitsubishi Chemical Holdings Corporation (Japan)
- Zoltek Corporation (United States)
- Toray Industries, Inc. (Japan)
- JNC Corporation (Japan)
- GrafTech International Ltd. (United States)
- SGL Carbon (Germany)
- Mitsubishi Rayon Group (Japan)
- Teijin Limited (Japan)
- Toho Tenax (Japan)
- DowAksa (Turkey)
- Hexcel Corporation (United States)
- Cytec Industries Inc. (United States)
- Formosa Plastics Group (Taiwan)
Activated Carbon Fiber (ACF) Market Recent Developments
- In January 2023, Whirlpool Corporation acquired Insignia Products. Insignia is a leading brand of smart home appliances, including ovens.
- In February 2023, Samsung Electronics acquired ChefSteps. ChefSteps is a leading provider of online cooking courses and recipes.
- In March 2023, Haier Group acquired Mealthy. Mealthy is a leading brand of connected kitchen appliances, including ovens.
Activated Carbon Fiber (ACF) Key Market Trends
- Increased Usage in Air and Gas Cleaning: Activated carbon has a strong adsorption potential for a range of molecules, including odorous chemicals and carcinogenic contaminants, making it a great choice for air and gas cleaning. It delivers clean, non-hazardous air by removing dangerous contaminants from the air streams in applications including personal safety and residential air purification. The product is also used to separate hydrogen from biogas and treat biogas. By protecting downstream machineries like engines, catalysts, and fuel cells from corrosive silicon dioxide and enhancing production yields, reduces manufacturing costs.
Activated Carbon Fiber (ACF) Market SkyQuest Analysis
SkyQuest's ABIRAW (Advanced Business Intelligence, Research & Analysis Wing) is our Business Information Services team that Collects, Collates, Co-relates, and Analyses the Data collected utilizing Primary Exploratory Research backed by robust Secondary Desk research.
According to our global activated carbon fiber market analysis, government rules that are strict on reducing flue gas emissions have driven end-user businesses to include water treatment technology. These elements are anticipated to drive the market for activated carbon. It is projected that as mercury control technology is used in industrial air purification applications, the need for activated carbon will increase.
| Report Metric | Details |
|---|---|
| Market size value in 2023 | USD 390.4 million |
| Market size value in 2032 | USD 869.14 million |
| Growth Rate | 9.3% |
| Base year | 2024 |
| Forecast period | 2025-2032 |
| Forecast Unit (Value) | USD Million |
| Segments covered |
|
| Regions covered | North America (US, Canada), Europe (Germany, France, United Kingdom, Italy, Spain, Rest of Europe), Asia Pacific (China, India, Japan, Rest of Asia-Pacific), Latin America (Brazil, Rest of Latin America), Middle East & Africa (South Africa, GCC Countries, Rest of MEA) |
| Companies covered |
|
| Customization scope | Free report customization with purchase. Customization includes:-
|
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Table Of Content
Executive Summary
Market overview
- Exhibit: Executive Summary – Chart on Market Overview
- Exhibit: Executive Summary – Data Table on Market Overview
- Exhibit: Executive Summary – Chart on Activated Carbon Fiber (ACF) Market Characteristics
- Exhibit: Executive Summary – Chart on Market by Geography
- Exhibit: Executive Summary – Chart on Market Segmentation
- Exhibit: Executive Summary – Chart on Incremental Growth
- Exhibit: Executive Summary – Data Table on Incremental Growth
- Exhibit: Executive Summary – Chart on Vendor Market Positioning
Parent Market Analysis
Market overview
Market size
- Market Dynamics
- Exhibit: Impact analysis of DROC, 2021
- Drivers
- Opportunities
- Restraints
- Challenges
- Exhibit: Impact analysis of DROC, 2021
- SWOT Analysis
KEY MARKET INSIGHTS
- Technology Analysis
- (Exhibit: Data Table: Name of technology and details)
- Pricing Analysis
- (Exhibit: Data Table: Name of technology and pricing details)
- Supply Chain Analysis
- (Exhibit: Detailed Supply Chain Presentation)
- Value Chain Analysis
- (Exhibit: Detailed Value Chain Presentation)
- Ecosystem Of the Market
- Exhibit: Parent Market Ecosystem Market Analysis
- Exhibit: Market Characteristics of Parent Market
- IP Analysis
- (Exhibit: Data Table: Name of product/technology, patents filed, inventor/company name, acquiring firm)
- Trade Analysis
- (Exhibit: Data Table: Import and Export data details)
- Startup Analysis
- (Exhibit: Data Table: Emerging startups details)
- Raw Material Analysis
- (Exhibit: Data Table: Mapping of key raw materials)
- Innovation Matrix
- (Exhibit: Positioning Matrix: Mapping of new and existing technologies)
- Pipeline product Analysis
- (Exhibit: Data Table: Name of companies and pipeline products, regional mapping)
- Macroeconomic Indicators
COVID IMPACT
- Introduction
- Impact On Economy—scenario Assessment
- Exhibit: Data on GDP - Year-over-year growth 2016-2022 (%)
- Revised Market Size
- Exhibit: Data Table on Activated Carbon Fiber (ACF) Market size and forecast 2021-2027 ($ million)
- Impact Of COVID On Key Segments
- Exhibit: Data Table on Segment Market size and forecast 2021-2027 ($ million)
- COVID Strategies By Company
- Exhibit: Analysis on key strategies adopted by companies
MARKET DYNAMICS & OUTLOOK
- Market Dynamics
- Exhibit: Impact analysis of DROC, 2021
- Drivers
- Opportunities
- Restraints
- Challenges
- Exhibit: Impact analysis of DROC, 2021
- Regulatory Landscape
- Exhibit: Data Table on regulation from different region
- SWOT Analysis
- Porters Analysis
- Competitive rivalry
- Exhibit: Competitive rivalry Impact of key factors, 2021
- Threat of substitute products
- Exhibit: Threat of Substitute Products Impact of key factors, 2021
- Bargaining power of buyers
- Exhibit: buyers bargaining power Impact of key factors, 2021
- Threat of new entrants
- Exhibit: Threat of new entrants Impact of key factors, 2021
- Bargaining power of suppliers
- Exhibit: Threat of suppliers bargaining power Impact of key factors, 2021
- Competitive rivalry
- Skyquest special insights on future disruptions
- Political Impact
- Economic impact
- Social Impact
- Technical Impact
- Environmental Impact
- Legal Impact
Market Size by Region
- Chart on Market share by geography 2021-2027 (%)
- Data Table on Market share by geography 2021-2027(%)
- North America
- Chart on Market share by country 2021-2027 (%)
- Data Table on Market share by country 2021-2027(%)
- USA
- Exhibit: Chart on Market share 2021-2027 (%)
- Exhibit: Market size and forecast 2021-2027 ($ million)
- Canada
- Exhibit: Chart on Market share 2021-2027 (%)
- Exhibit: Market size and forecast 2021-2027 ($ million)
- Europe
- Chart on Market share by country 2021-2027 (%)
- Data Table on Market share by country 2021-2027(%)
- Germany
- Exhibit: Chart on Market share 2021-2027 (%)
- Exhibit: Market size and forecast 2021-2027 ($ million)
- Spain
- Exhibit: Chart on Market share 2021-2027 (%)
- Exhibit: Market size and forecast 2021-2027 ($ million)
- France
- Exhibit: Chart on Market share 2021-2027 (%)
- Exhibit: Market size and forecast 2021-2027 ($ million)
- UK
- Exhibit: Chart on Market share 2021-2027 (%)
- Exhibit: Market size and forecast 2021-2027 ($ million)
- Rest of Europe
- Exhibit: Chart on Market share 2021-2027 (%)
- Exhibit: Market size and forecast 2021-2027 ($ million)
- Asia Pacific
- Chart on Market share by country 2021-2027 (%)
- Data Table on Market share by country 2021-2027(%)
- China
- Exhibit: Chart on Market share 2021-2027 (%)
- Exhibit: Market size and forecast 2021-2027 ($ million)
- India
- Exhibit: Chart on Market share 2021-2027 (%)
- Exhibit: Market size and forecast 2021-2027 ($ million)
- Japan
- Exhibit: Chart on Market share 2021-2027 (%)
- Exhibit: Market size and forecast 2021-2027 ($ million)
- South Korea
- Exhibit: Chart on Market share 2021-2027 (%)
- Exhibit: Market size and forecast 2021-2027 ($ million)
- Rest of Asia Pacific
- Exhibit: Chart on Market share 2021-2027 (%)
- Exhibit: Market size and forecast 2021-2027 ($ million)
- Latin America
- Chart on Market share by country 2021-2027 (%)
- Data Table on Market share by country 2021-2027(%)
- Brazil
- Exhibit: Chart on Market share 2021-2027 (%)
- Exhibit: Market size and forecast 2021-2027 ($ million)
- Rest of South America
- Exhibit: Chart on Market share 2021-2027 (%)
- Exhibit: Market size and forecast 2021-2027 ($ million)
- Middle East & Africa (MEA)
- Chart on Market share by country 2021-2027 (%)
- Data Table on Market share by country 2021-2027(%)
- GCC Countries
- Exhibit: Chart on Market share 2021-2027 (%)
- Exhibit: Market size and forecast 2021-2027 ($ million)
- South Africa
- Exhibit: Chart on Market share 2021-2027 (%)
- Exhibit: Market size and forecast 2021-2027 ($ million)
- Rest of MEA
- Exhibit: Chart on Market share 2021-2027 (%)
- Exhibit: Market size and forecast 2021-2027 ($ million)
KEY COMPANY PROFILES
- Competitive Landscape
- Total number of companies covered
- Exhibit: companies covered in the report, 2021
- Top companies market positioning
- Exhibit: company positioning matrix, 2021
- Top companies market Share
- Exhibit: Pie chart analysis on company market share, 2021(%)
- Total number of companies covered
Methodology
For the Activated Carbon Fiber (ACF) Market, our research methodology involved a mixture of primary and secondary data sources. Key steps involved in the research process are listed below:
1. Information Procurement: This stage involved the procurement of Market data or related information via primary and secondary sources. The various secondary sources used included various company websites, annual reports, trade databases, and paid databases such as Hoover's, Bloomberg Business, Factiva, and Avention. Our team did 45 primary interactions Globally which included several stakeholders such as manufacturers, customers, key opinion leaders, etc. Overall, information procurement was one of the most extensive stages in our research process.
2. Information Analysis: This step involved triangulation of data through bottom-up and top-down approaches to estimate and validate the total size and future estimate of the Activated Carbon Fiber (ACF) Market.
3. Report Formulation: The final step entailed the placement of data points in appropriate Market spaces in an attempt to deduce viable conclusions.
4. Validation & Publishing: Validation is the most important step in the process. Validation & re-validation via an intricately designed process helped us finalize data points to be used for final calculations. The final Market estimates and forecasts were then aligned and sent to our panel of industry experts for validation of data. Once the validation was done the report was sent to our Quality Assurance team to ensure adherence to style guides, consistency & design.
Analyst Support
Customization Options
With the given market data, our dedicated team of analysts can offer you the following customization options are available for the Activated Carbon Fiber (ACF) Market:
Product Analysis: Product matrix, which offers a detailed comparison of the product portfolio of companies.
Regional Analysis: Further analysis of the Activated Carbon Fiber (ACF) Market for additional countries.
Competitive Analysis: Detailed analysis and profiling of additional Market players & comparative analysis of competitive products.
Go to Market Strategy: Find the high-growth channels to invest your marketing efforts and increase your customer base.
Innovation Mapping: Identify racial solutions and innovation, connected to deep ecosystems of innovators, start-ups, academics, and strategic partners.
Category Intelligence: Customized intelligence that is relevant to their supply Markets will enable them to make smarter sourcing decisions and improve their category management.
Public Company Transcript Analysis: To improve the investment performance by generating new alpha and making better-informed decisions.
Social Media Listening: To analyze the conversations and trends happening not just around your brand, but around your industry as a whole, and use those insights to make better Marketing decisions.
Activated Carbon Fiber (ACF) Market Report Snapshots
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