Activated carbon: Production
Hundreds of makers, from Chinese coal to Sri Lankan coconut
What this tab covers Who makes it and how much: world capacity and output, utilisation, the top producing countries and companies globally and in India, concentration, new capacity coming, and each region's position.| Measure | Figure | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| World capacity | not published | Hundreds of producers worldwide; China, the US, India, Sri Lanka, the Philippines and Indonesia are the main producers (indicative). | Indicative |
| World output | about 3 Mt (indicative) | Derived from market value; HS 380210 world imports were 690,807 t in Jan-Sep 2025, down from 713,870 t a year earlier (ICC). | MarketsandMarkets (2025); ICC (Dec 2025) |
| Capacity utilisation | 70-85% typical for stable plants; break-even about 45-55% (IMARC, India) | Coconut carbon makers were constrained in 2025 by tight shell charcoal supply (ICC). | IMARC (2026); ICC (2025) |
| Concentration | low to moderate; no country shares published | Kuraray (Calgon Carbon), Jacobi, Ingevity, Haycarb and Norit are the largest Western-listed names; China's many coal-based producers lead volume. | MarketsandMarkets (2025) |
| New capacity | not published | PFAS water rules in the US and EU drive new reactivation centres and GAC capacity (indicative); coconut carbon growth is limited by shell charcoal supply (ICC, 2025). | ICC (2025); indicative |
Top producing countries
- China: largest producer, mainly coal-based (indicative); supplied 48% of India's imports by value in 2023
- United States: major coal-based producer and reactivator; imported 38,552 t ($101.4 million) of coconut-based carbon in Jan-Sep 2025
- India: exports $306 million (2024, UN Comtrade); activated carbon is the largest coconut product export line (2025-26)
- Sri Lanka: exports 48,547 t, $123.3 million (Jan-Oct 2024); 46,823 t, $161.3 million (Jan-Oct 2025)
- Philippines: large coconut-carbon exporter; figures not found in sources used
- Indonesia: exports 13,339 t, $22.8 million (Jan-Oct 2025)
Largest producers: global
| Company | Country | Volume | Year | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kuraray (Calgon Carbon) Largest coal-based producer and reactivator in the US (indicative) | Japan / US | not published | 2025 | MarketsandMarkets (2025) |
| Jacobi Carbons (Osaka Gas Chemicals) Coconut, coal and wood carbons; plants in Asia | Sweden / Japan | not published | 2025 | MarketsandMarkets (2025) |
| Ingevity Wood-based carbons for automotive canisters | US | not published | 2025 | MarketsandMarkets (2025) |
| Haycarb Coconut-shell carbon | Sri Lanka | not published | 2025 | MarketsandMarkets (2025) |
| Norit Peat, coal and wood carbons | Netherlands | not published | 2025 | MarketsandMarkets (2025) |
| Carbotech and Kureha Specialty carbons | Germany / Japan | not published | 2025 | MarketsandMarkets (2025) |
| Puragen (CPL) Reactivation and coconut carbon | UK | not published | 2025 | MarketsandMarkets (2025) |
Largest producers: India
| Company | Country | Volume | Year | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Global Adsorbents Pvt Ltd Activated carbon exporter; capacity not published | India | not published | 2025 | Aquatech exhibitor listing |
| Indo German Carbons Coconut-shell carbon producer in Kerala (indicative) | India | not published | 2025 | not published in sources used |
| Kerala and Tamil Nadu coconut-carbon cluster Many mid-size plants of 3,000-20,000 t/yr | India | not published | 2025 | IMARC (2026): South India holds about 32% of India's market |
India is a net exporter of activated carbon ($306 million exports against $77 million imports in 2024, UN Comtrade), built on coconut shells from Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. It imports coal-based and specialty grades, 48% from China. Company capacities are not published.
Position by region
| Region | Position |
|---|---|
| US | Largest buyer of coconut carbon (38,552 t in Jan-Sep 2025) and top destination for Indian exports; anti-dumping duties on Chinese activated carbon since 2007; PFAS rules drive demand. |
| EU | Imports coconut and coal carbons; drinking water directive adds PFAS limits. |
| India | Net exporter of coconut carbon; exposed to US demand and Sri Lankan and Indonesian competition. |
| China | Largest coal-based producer and exporter; faces US duties. |
| Japan | Kuraray, Osaka Gas Chemicals and Kureha own global producers. |
| Middle East | Importer for water and gas treatment. |