Industry Statistics and Trends
Market size and recent performance (2015-2030)
Industry revenue has grown at a CAGR of 3.1 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated $417.8m in 2025.
Trends and Insights
Revenue growth momentum illustrates a sustained upward trend in the activated carbon industry
- Revenue in the activated carbon market has increased significantly, demonstrating a positive and expanding environment. Over the past five years, the industry achieved a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.1%, reaching $417.8 million. This growth reflects the industry’s effectiveness in addressing rising demand and strategically positioning itself in emerging markets. Key drivers of this growth include an increase in exports and expansion within industry establishments and enterprises. Establishments grew by a CAGR of 1.9%, while enterprises expanded at a rate of 2.1%, indicating the industry’s ability to reach new consumers and diversify its customer base.
- Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Source: IBISWorld
Industry outlook (2025-2030)
Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.
Trends and Insights
Finalized clean hydrogen tax rules set to drive significant demand for innovative carbon solutions and boost sustainable energy growth
- The US Department of the Treasury press release, published on January 3, 2025, announces the finalized rules for the section 45V Clean Hydrogen Production Tax Credit, a component of the Inflation Reduction Act. These rules are designed to provide investment certainty and flexibility while ensuring compliance with stringent lifecycle emissions standards for hydrogen production. The updated guidelines clarify eligibility for producers using diverse energy sources, including renewable and nuclear electricity, natural gas with carbon capture and renewable natural gas. By incorporating feedback and implementing significant revisions, the administration seeks to position the United States as a dominant force in the green hydrogen sector, significantly impacting industries related to hydrogen production.
Biggest companies in the Activated Carbon Manufacturing in the US
| Company | Market Share (%)
2025 | Revenue ($m)
2025 | Profit ($m)
2025 | Profit Margin (%)
2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
75.9 | 40.3 | 53.1 | ||
70.0 | 7.2 | 10.3 |
To view the market share and analysis for all 2 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.
Products & Services Segmentation
Source: IBISWorld
Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Powdered activated carbon , Granular activated carbon and Other products. Powdered activated carbon is the largest segment of the Activated Carbon Manufacturing in the US.
Trends and Insights
Powdered activated carbon dominates industry revenue and plays a crucial role through innovations in purification processes
- Powdered activated carbon is a fine carbon material used extensively for filtration and purification. It dominates the market, accounting for a substantial portion of revenue. Its high performance in removing impurities from liquids and gases makes it critical in water treatment and air purification. Growing environmental regulations requiring cleaner outputs in various industries drive its continued demand.
- More insights available in the full report
Table of Contents
About this industry
Industry definition
Companies in this industry manufacture activated carbon, which is a form of carbon that has been processed to make it extremely porous. Thus, activated carbon has a very large surface area available for adsorption or chemical reactions. Activated carbon is produced from carbonaceous source materials, such as nutshells, peat, wood, coir, lignite, coal and petroleum pitch and is used for a range of purposes, including gas purification and water purification.
What's included in this industry?
Manufacturing powdered activated carbonManufacturing granular activated carbonManufacturing extruded activated carbonCompanies
Ingevity CorporationKuraray Co LtdPurchase this report to view all 2 major companies in this industry.
Related Terms
ACTIVATED CARBONADSORPTIONACTIVATIONIndustry Code
NAICS 325998 - Activated Carbon Manufacturing in the US
Performance
Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.
Analyst insights
The activated carbon manufacturing industry's revenue has expanded consistently over the past five years. This growth trend is supported by ongoing demand for activated carbo...
In this chapter (4)
- Current Performance
- Outlook
- Volatility
- Life Cycle
Key metrics
- Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
- Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
- Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
- Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business
Charts
- Revenue, including historical (2015-2024) and forecast (2025-2030)
- Employees, including historical (2015-2024) and forecast (2025-2030)
- Businesses, including historical (2015-2024) and forecast (2025-2030)
- Profit, including historical (2015-2025)
- Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
- Industry Life Cycle
Detailed analysis
- Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
- Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
- Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
- How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.
Products and Markets
Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.
Analyst insight
Powdered activated carbon constitutes the industry's largest product segment. Its use in water treatment, air purification and industrial processes reflects its leading marke...
In this chapter
- Products & Services
- Major Markets
- International Trade
Key metrics
- Largest market segment and value in 2025
- Product innovation level
- Total imports, level and trend
- Total exports, level and trend
- Trade Balance
Charts
- Products & services segmentation in 2025
- Major market segmentation in 2025
- International trade, including imports by country and exports by country
Detailed analysis
- Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
- Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
- Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
- Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services
- Recent trends in import and export volumes, country of origin or destination, and expected future trends
Geographic Breakdown
Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.
Analyst insights
The Southeast region holds the highest concentration of industry business locations, indicating its strategic importance. The proximity to raw materials and large consumer ba...
In this chapter (1)
- Business Locations
Charts
- Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each state
- Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2025
Tables
- Number and share of establishments in each state in 2025
- Number and share of revenue each state accounts for in 2025
- Number and share of wages each state accounts for in 2025
- Number and share of employees in each state in 2025
Detailed analysis
- Geographic spread of the industry across North America, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
- Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage
Competitive Forces
Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.
Analyst insights
The industry displays low market concentration, with many small to medium-sized companies contributing to diversity. This structural setup impacts competitive dynamics, requi...
In this chapter (4)
- Concentration
- Barriers to Entry
- Substitutes
- Buyer & Supplier Analysis
Key metrics
- Industry concentration level
- Industry competition level and trend
- Barriers to entry level and trend
- Substitutes level and trend
- Buyer power level and trend
- Supplier power level and trend
Charts
- Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2020-2025
- Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart
Detailed analysis
- Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
- Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
- Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
- Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
- Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
- Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
- Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
- Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
- Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.
Companies
Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.
Analyst insights
Consolidation trends are evident as companies seek stronger market footholds through mergers and acquisitions. This activity is increasing market concentration, influencing c...
In this chapter
- Market Share Concentration
- Companies
- Company Spotlights
Charts
- Industry market share by company in 2021 through 2025
- Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2025
- Overview of Ingevity Corporation's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2019 through 2025
- Overview of Kuraray Co Ltd's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2019 through 2025
Detailed analysis
- Description and key data for Ingevity Corporation, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
- Description and key data for Kuraray Co Ltd, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
External Environment
Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.
Analyst insights
Various environmental regulations dictate industry operations, mandating eco-friendly materials and processes. These regulations significantly shape manufacturing protocols, ...
In this chapter
- External Drivers
- Regulation & Policy
- Assistance
Key metrics
- Regulation & policy level and trend
- Assistance level and trend
Charts
- Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2015-2030)
- Assistance historical data and forecast (2015-2030)
Detailed analysis
- Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
- Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
- Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.
Financial Benchmarks
View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time.
Analyst insights
Purchases form the largest segment of the industry's cost structure, significantly affecting operational expenditure. Raw material costs, particularly coal and lignite, impos...
In this chapter
- Cost Structure
- Financial Ratios
- Key Ratios
Key metrics
- Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
- Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
- Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
- Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio
Charts
- Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2025
- Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2025
- Investment vs. share of economy
Data tables
- Industry Multiples (2018-2023)
- Industry Tax Structure (2018-2023)
- Income Statement (2018-2023)
- Balance Sheet (2018-2023)
- Liquidity Ratios (2018-2023)
- Coverage Ratios (2018-2023)
- Leverage Ratios (2018-2023)
- Operating Ratios (2018-2023)
- Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2015-2030)
- Revenue per Employee (2015-2030)
- Revenue per Enterprise (2015-2030)
- Employees per Establishment (2015-2030)
- Employees per Enterprise (2015-2030)
- Average Wage (2015-2030)
- Wages/Revenue (2015-2030)
- Establishments per Enterprise (2015-2030)
- IVA/Revenue (2015-2030)
- Imports/Demand (2015-2030)
- Exports/Revenue (2015-2030)
Detailed analysis
- Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability
Key Statistics
Industry Data
Data Tables
Including values and annual change:
- Revenue (2015-2030)
- IVA (2015-2030)
- Establishments (2015-2030)
- Enterprises (2015-2030)
- Employment (2015-2030)
- Exports (2015-2030)
- Imports (2015-2030)
- Wages (2015-2030)
Top Questions Answered
Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.
What is the market size of the Activated Carbon Manufacturing in the US industry in United States in 2025?
The market size of the Activated Carbon Manufacturing in the US industry in United States is $417.8m in 2025.
How many businesses are there in the Activated Carbon Manufacturing in the US industry in 2025?
There are 31 businesses in the Activated Carbon Manufacturing in the US industry in United States, which has grown at a CAGR of 2.1 % between 2020 and 2025.
Has the Activated Carbon Manufacturing in the US industry in United States grown or declined over the past 5 years?
The market size of the Activated Carbon Manufacturing in the US industry in United States has been growing at a CAGR of 3.1 % between 2020 and 2025.
What is the forecast growth of the Activated Carbon Manufacturing in the US industry in United States over the next 5 years?
Over the next five years, the Activated Carbon Manufacturing in the US industry in United States is expected to grow.
What are the biggest companies in the Activated Carbon Manufacturing in the US market in United States?
The biggest companies operating in the Activated Carbon Manufacturing market in United States are Ingevity Corporation and Kuraray Co Ltd
What does the Activated Carbon Manufacturing in the US in United States include?
Manufacturing powdered activated carbon and Manufacturing granular activated carbon are part of the Activated Carbon Manufacturing in the US industry.
Which companies have the highest market share in the Activated Carbon Manufacturing in the US in United States?
The company holding the most market share in United States is Ingevity Corporation.
How competitive is the Activated Carbon Manufacturing in the US industry in United States?
The level of competition is high and steady in the Activated Carbon Manufacturing in the US industry in United States.
Related Industries
Widen your competitive advantage with related industries
Competitors
- There are no industries to display.
Complementors
View all industries in United States
Methodology
How are IBISWorld reports created?
IBISWorld has been a leading provider of trusted industry research for over 50 years to the most successful companies worldwide. With offices in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and China, we are proud to have local teams of analysts that conduct research, data analysis and forecasting to produce data-driven industry reports.
Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.
IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.
What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?
Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.
Key data sources in the US include:
- US Census Bureau
- US Bureau of Labor Statistics
- US International Trade Commission
Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.
These sources include:
- Industry and trade associations
- Industry federations or regulators
- Major industry players annual or quarterly filings
Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.
How does IBISWorld forecast its data?
IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.
IBISWorld prides itself on being a trusted, independent source of data, with over 50 years of experience building and maintaining rich datasets and forecasting tools. We are proud to be the keystone source of industry information for thousands of companies across the world.
Learn more about our methodology and data sourcing on the Help Center.
