Published Year: 2025
Activated Carbon Market for Water Treatment - A Global and Regional Analysis: Focus on Application,
The global activated carbon market for water treatment is projected to reach $7,847.9 million...
Market Research Report
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Table of Contents
1.1Trends:Current and Future Impact Assessment
1.1.1Sustainability and Circular Use of Activated Carbon
1.1.2Increasing Public Awareness and Adoption of Filtration
1.2Supply Chain Overview
1.2.1Value Chain Analysis
1.2.1.1Virgin Activated Carbon
1.2.1.2Reactivated Carbon
1.2.2Market Map
1.2.3Pricing Forecast
1.3Research and Development Review
1.3.1Patent Filing Trend (by Number of Patents, by Country, and Company)
1.4Regulatory Landscape
1.5Stakeholder Analysis
1.5.1Use Case
1.5.2End User and Buying Criteria
1.6Market Dynamics
1.6.1Market Drivers
1.6.1.1Stricter Water Quality Regulations
1.6.1.2Growing Water Pollution and Demand for Clean Water
1.6.2Market Challenges
1.6.2.1Raw Material Supply Constraints and Cost Volatility
1.6.2.2Spent Carbon Disposal and Environmental Concerns
1.6.3Market Opportunities
1.6.3.1Emerging Contaminant Remediation
1.6.3.2Investment in Water Infrastructure and Reuse Projects
2.1Regional Summary
2.2Europe
2.2.1Regional Overview
2.2.2Driving Factors for Market Growth
2.2.3Factors Challenging the Market
2.2.4Application
2.2.5Product
2.2.6Europe (by Country)
2.2.6.1Germany
2.2.6.1.1Application
2.2.6.1.2Product
2.2.6.2France
2.2.6.2.1Application
2.2.6.2.2Product
2.2.6.3U.K.
2.2.6.3.1Application
2.2.6.3.2Product
2.2.6.4Italy
2.2.6.4.1Application
2.2.6.4.2Product
2.2.6.5Spain
2.2.6.5.1Application
2.2.6.5.2Product
2.2.6.6Poland
2.2.6.6.1Application
2.2.6.6.2Product
2.2.6.7Rest-of-Europe
2.2.6.7.1Application
2.2.6.7.2Product
3.1Jacobi Carbons AB (Osaka Gas Chemicals Co., Ltd.)
3.1.1Overview
3.1.2Top Products/Product Portfolio
3.1.3Top Competitors
3.1.4Target Customers
3.1.5Key Personal
3.1.6Analyst View
3.1.7Market Share, 2024
3.2Silcarbon Aktivkohle GmbH
3.2.1Overview
3.2.2Top Products/Product Portfolio
3.2.3Top Competitors
3.2.4Target Customers
3.2.5Key Personal
3.2.6Analyst View
3.2.7Market Share,2024
3.3Norit
3.3.1Overview
3.3.2Top Products/Product Portfolio
3.3.3Top Competitors
3.3.4Target Customers
3.3.5Key Personal
3.3.6Analyst View
3.3.7Market Share, 2024
3.4CarboTech AC GmbH
3.4.1Overview
3.4.2Top Products/Product Portfolio
3.4.3Top Competitors
3.4.4Target Customers
3.4.5Key Personal
3.4.6Analyst View
3.4.7Market Share, 2024
3.5Donau Carbon GmbH
3.5.1Overview
3.5.2Top Products/Product Portfolio
3.5.3Top Competitors
3.5.4Target Customers
3.5.5Key Personal
3.5.6Analyst View
3.5.7Market Share, 2024
3.6Desotec NV
3.6.1Overview
3.6.2Top Products/Product Portfolio
3.6.3Top Competitors
3.6.4Target Customers
3.6.5Key Personal
3.6.6Analyst View
3.6.7Market Share, 2024
3.7Other Key Companies
4.1Data Sources
4.1.1Primary Data Sources
4.1.2Secondary Data Sources
4.1.3Data Triangulation
4.2Market Estimation and Forecast
Table 1:Market Snapshot
Table 2:Competitive Landscape Snapshot
Table 3:Trends: Current and Future Impact Assessment
Table 4:Regulatory Landscape
Table 5:Drivers, Challenges, and Opportunities, 2025-2035
Table 6:Activated Carbon Market for Water Treatment (by Region), Kilo Ton, 2024-2035
Table 7:Activated Carbon Market for Water Treatment (by Region), $Million, 2024-2035
Table 8:Europe Activated Carbon Market for Water Treatment (by End-Use Industry), $Million, 2024-2035
Table 9:Europe Activated Carbon Market for Water Treatment (by End-Use Industry), Kilo Ton, 2024-2035
Table 10:Europe Activated Carbon Market for Water Treatment (by Application), $Million, 2024-2035
Table 11:Europe Activated Carbon Market for Water Treatment (by Application), Kilo Ton, 2024-2035
Table 12:Europe Activated Carbon Market for Water Treatment (by Activated Carbon Type), $Million, 2024-2035
Table 13:Europe Activated Carbon Market for Water Treatment (by Activated Carbon Type), Kilo Ton, 2024-2035
Table 14:Germany Activated Carbon Market for Water Treatment (by End-Use Industry), $Million, 2024-2035
Table 15:Germany Activated Carbon Market for Water Treatment (by End-Use Industry), Kilo Ton, 2024-2035
Table 16:Germany Activated Carbon Market for Water Treatment (by Application), $ Million, 2024-2035
Table 17:Germany Activated Carbon Market for Water Treatment (by Application), Kilo Ton, 2024-2035
Table 18:Germany Activated Carbon Market for Water Treatment (by Activated Carbon Type), $Million, 2024-2035
Table 19:Germany Activated Carbon Market for Water Treatment (by Activated Carbon Type), Kilo Ton, 2024-2035
Table 20:France Activated Carbon Market for Water Treatment (by End-Use Industry), $Million, 2024-2035
Table 21:France Activated Carbon Market for Water Treatment (by End-Use Industry), Kilo Ton, 2024-2035
Table 22:France Activated Carbon Market for Water Treatment (by Application), $ Million, 2024-2035
Table 23:France Activated Carbon Market for Water Treatment (by Application), Kilo Ton, 2024-2035
Table 24:France Activated Carbon Market for Water Treatment (by Activated Carbon Type), $Million, 2024-2035
Table 25:France Activated Carbon Market for Water Treatment (by Activated Carbon Type), Kilo Ton, 2024-2035
Table 26:U.K.Activated Carbon Market for Water Treatment (by End-User Industry), $Million, 2024-2035
Table 27:U.K.Activated Carbon Market for Water Treatment (by End-User Industry), Kilo Ton,2024-2035
Table 28:U.K.Activated Carbon Market for Water Treatment (by Application), $Million, 2024-2035
Table 29:U.K.Activated Carbon Market for Water Treatment (by Application), Kilo Ton, 2024-2035
Table 30:U.K.Activated Carbon Market for Water Treatment (by Activated Carbon Type), $Million, 2024-2035
Table 31:U.K.Activated Carbon Market for Water Treatment (by Activated Carbon Type), Kilo Ton, 2024-2035
Table 32:Italy Activated Carbon Market for Water Treatment (by End-Use Industry), $Million, 2024-2035
Table 33:Italy Activated Carbon Market for Water Treatment (by End-Use Industry), Kilo Ton, 2024-2035
Table 34:Italy Activated Carbon Market for Water Treatment (by Application), $Million, 2024-2035
Table 35:Italy Activated Carbon Market for Water Treatment (by Application), Kilo Ton, 2024-2035
Table 36:Italy Activated Carbon Market for Water Treatment (by Activated Carbon Type), $Million, 2024-2035
Table 37:Italy Activated Carbon Market for Water Treatment (by Activated Carbon Type), Kilo Ton,2024-2035
Table 38:Spain Activated Carbon Market for Water Treatment (by End-Use Industry), $Million, 2024-2035
Table 39:Spain Activated Carbon Market for Water Treatment (by End-Use Industry), Kilo Ton, 2024-2035
Table 40:Spain Activated Carbon Market for Water Treatment (by Application), $Million, 2024-2035
Table 41:Spain Activated Carbon Market for Water Treatment (by Application), Kilo Ton, 2024-2035
Table 42:Spain Activated Carbon Market for Water Treatment (by Activated Carbon Type), $Million, 2024-2035
Table 43:Spain Activated Carbon Market for Water Treatment (by Activated Carbon Type), Kilo Ton, 2024-2035
Table 44:Poland Activated Carbon Market for Water Treatment (by End-Use Industry), $Million, 2024-2035
Table 45:Poland Activated Carbon Market for Water Treatment (by End-Use Industry), Kilo Ton, 2024-2035
Table 46:Poland Activated Carbon Market for Water Treatment (by Application), $Million,2024-2035
Table 47:Poland Activated Carbon Market for Water Treatment (by Application), Kilo Ton, 2024-2035
Table 48:Poland Activated Carbon Market for Water Treatment (by Activated Carbon Type), $Million, 2024-2035
Table 49:Poland Activated Carbon Market for Water Treatment (by Activated Carbon Type), Kilo Ton, 2024-2035
Figure 1:Europe Activated Carbon Market for Water Treatment (by Scenario), $Million, 2025, 2030, and 2035
Figure 2:Europe Activated Carbon Market for Water Treatment, 2024 and 2035
Figure 3:Market Snapshot, 2024
Figure 4:Activated Carbon Market for Water Treatment, $Million, 2024 and 2035
Figure 5:Europe Activated Carbon Market for Water Treatment (by End-Use Industry), $Million, 2024, 2030, and 2035
Figure 6:Europe Activated Carbon Market for Water Treatment (by Application), $Million, 2024, 2030, and 2035
Figure 7:Europe Activated Carbon Market for Water Treatment ((by Activated Carbon Type), $Million, 2024, 2030, and 2035
Figure 8:Pricing Forecast, $Million/Kilo Ton, 2024-2035
Figure 9:Patent Analysis (by Country and Company), January 2021- December 2024
Figure 10:Use Case 1: Heavy Metals and Organic Removal in Industrial Wastewater (Germany, 2021)
Figure 11:Use Case 2: Reusing Rinse Water by Removing Surfactants in Automotive Manufacturing (Germany, 2022)
Figure 12:Use Case 3: Cutting COD Peaks in Biofuel Plant Wastewater (Spain, 2021)
Figure 13:Use Case 4: Mobile PFAS Removal for Drinking Water Supply (France, 2023)
Figure 14:Stakeholder Analysis
Figure 15:Germany Activated Carbon Market for Water Treatment, $Million, 2024-2035
Figure 16:France Activated Carbon Market for Water Treatment, $Million, 2024-2035
Figure 17:U.K. Activated Carbon Market for Water Treatment, $Million, 2024-2035
Figure 18:India Activated Carbon Market, $Million, 2024-2035
Figure 19:Spain Activated Carbon Market, $Million, 2024-2035
Figure 20:Poland Activated Carbon Market, $Million, 2024-2035
Figure 21:Rest-of-Europe Activated Carbon Market for Water Treatment, $Million, 2024-2035
Figure 22:Strategic Initiatives, January 2021-May 2025
Figure 23:Data Triangulation
Figure 24:Top-Down and Bottom-Up Approach
Figure 25:Assumptions and Limitations
Europe Activated Carbon Market for Water Treatment Report Coverage
|
Europe Activated Carbon Market for Water Treatment Market |
|||
|
Base Year |
2024 |
Market Size in 2024 |
$371.4 Million |
|
Forecast Period |
2025-2035 |
Value Projection and Estimation by 2035 |
$825.0 Million |
|
CAGR During Forecast Period |
7.45% |
||
Some prominent names established in the market are:
• Jacobi Carbons AB
• Silcarbon Aktivkohle GmbH
• Norit
• CarboTech AC GmbH
• Donau Carbon GmbH
• Desotec NV
How can this report add value to the Organization ?
Product/Innovation Strategy: The study dissects demand by carbon type (GAC, PAC, others), by application (liquid-phase adsorption, gas-phase adsorption), and end-use industry (municipal water treatment, food and beverages, pharmaceutical and medical, mining and metal recovery, chemical industry, textile industry, and others). It outlines advances in pore-engineering that enhance PFAS uptake and highlights trends in renewable feedstocks, providing R&D teams with insights to align new grades with high-growth market segments.
Growth/Marketing Strategy: Market-share tables identify key incumbents and the service gaps they leave, guiding go-to-market plans for emerging suppliers or technology partners.
Competitive Strategy: Profiles of key players map capacities, reactivation footprints, and recent acquisitions so corporate strategists can benchmark M&A or partnership targets. Pricing-forecast and patent-filing analyses inform negotiation baselines and IP positioning.
Introduction to Europe Activated Carbon Market for Water Treatment
The Europe activated carbon market for water treatment is projected to reach $825.0 million by 2035 from $371.4 million in 2024, growing at a CAGR of 7.45% during the forecast period 2025-2035. Activated carbon is obtained in the European market either by reactivating spent carbon or as fresh material from wood, coconut shell, or coal. Pyrolysis of raw materials, activation, pelletizing or milling, application engineering, and closed-loop regeneration are all included in the regional value chain. High initial adsorption capacity is provided by virgin grades, and reactivated carbon lowers expenses and waste by repeatedly replenishing used media. European technological advancements focus on digital monitoring to maximize breakthrough cycles, steam-efficient rotary kiln reactivation, and customized pore-size distributions for PFAS and microorganism removal. Investment in low-energy activation technologies and bio-based feedstocks is being driven by stricter EU rules and sustainability goals.
Market Introduction
The market for activated carbon in water treatment in Europe is essential to guaranteeing clean, safe water for use in industrial, municipal, and environmental settings. Because of its remarkable adsorption ability, activated carbon is used to rid drinking and process water of impurities like microorganisms, PFAS, medications, pesticides, and chlorine byproducts. Both virgin carbon, which is made from coal, coconut shell, or wood, and reactivated carbon, which restores spent media for repeated use, provide a sustainable and economical alternative for the supply of carbon in Europe.
The regional value chain consists of raw material processing, activation, shape or milling, application engineering, and closed-loop regeneration. Because of their sophisticated water treatment systems, strict environmental laws, and robust industrial demand, Germany, the UK, France, and Italy are important markets. Technological developments concentrate on improving rotary-kiln reactivation efficiency, customizing pore architectures for particular pollutants, and incorporating digital monitoring to maximize performance.
The transition to bio-based feedstocks and low-energy activation techniques is being accelerated by EU regulations, especially the Drinking Water Directive, and sustainability objectives. The market for activated carbon water treatment in Europe is expected to increase steadily due to rising water shortages, industrial discharge limits, and public health awareness, all while striking a balance between innovation, environmental responsibility, and regulatory compliance.
Market Segmentation
Segmentation 1 : by End-Use Industry
• Municipal Water Treatment
• Food and Beverages
• Pharmaceutical and Medical
• Mining and Metal Recovery
• Chemical Industry
• Textile Industry
• Others
Segmentation 2: by Application
• Liquid-Phase Adsorption
• Gas-Phase Adsorption
Segmentation 3: by Activated Carbon Type
• Powdered Activated Carbon (PAC)
• Granular Activated Carbon (GAC)
• Others
Segmentation 4: by Region
• Europe
Market Trends, Drives and Challenges of Europe Activated Carbon Market for Water Treatment
Market Trends
• Growing demand for advanced water purification due to aging municipal water infrastructure in Europe.
• Shift toward environmentally friendly and sustainable activated carbon production methods, including reactivation and bio-based sources.
• Increasing application of powdered activated carbon (PAC) in municipal water treatment plants for micro-pollutant removal.
• Integration of hybrid treatment systems combining activated carbon with membrane filtration or UV disinfection.
• Adoption of stringent EU water quality regulations (e.g., Drinking Water Directive updates) driving continuous technological upgrades.
Key Market Drivers
• Declining freshwater availability and rising water stress levels in Southern and Eastern Europe.
• Stringent environmental regulations on industrial effluent discharge and municipal water treatment.
• Rapid urban population growth increasing the demand for safe drinking water.
• Rising industrial water treatment needs in sectors like food & beverage, pharmaceuticals, and chemicals.
• Increased public awareness on waterborne diseases and microplastics contamination
Major Market Challenges
• High production and reactivation costs for activated carbon compared to some chemical alternatives.
• Availability of low-cost substitutes (e.g., advanced oxidation processes, ion exchange resins) in certain applications.
• Complexity of EU regulatory compliance for imports and product specifications.
• Volatility in raw material supply (e.g., coconut shell, coal, wood) leading to cost fluctuations.
• Difficulty in handling and disposal of spent activated carbon with adsorbed hazardous compounds.
Europe Activated Carbon Market for Water Treatment
Focus on Application, Product, and Country Analysis - Analysis and Forecast, 2025-2035
Some Faq's
Frequently Asked Questions
The Europe activated carbon market for water treatment is projected to reach $825.0 million by 2035 from $371.4 million in 2024, growing at a CAGR of 7.45% during the forecast period 2025-2035.
The EU Drinking Water Directive (Directive (EU) 2020/2184) enforces strict limits on contaminants such as pesticides, pharmaceuticals, and PFAS, boosting activated carbon demand. Additional REACH compliance, wastewater discharge regulations, and circular economy policies promote reactivated carbon use, ensuring safer water quality across municipal and industrial applications in Europe.
In Europe, the largest industrial consumers of activated carbon for water purification are the food and beverage, pharmaceutical, and chemical manufacturing sectors. These industries require high-purity process water and strict effluent treatment to meet regulatory standards, driving consistent demand for both powdered and granular activated carbon filtration systems
Yes. Activated carbon imports into Europe must meet strict EU purity and performance standards, often requiring certification under REACH regulations. Some imports, especially from Asia, face anti-dumping duties and tariffs. Compliance with environmental and safety standards is mandatory, influencing sourcing strategies for municipal and industrial water treatment applications.
The report delivers a granular 2025-2035 forecast by end user, by application, by activated carbon type, by region maps patent activity and pricing outlook, and benchmarks supplier market shares, enabling strategic, product, and investment teams to pinpoint white-space innovation and M&A targets with confidence.
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