Activated Carbon Fiber (ACF) Market Size By Material (Cellulose Based, Polyacrylonitrile (PAN) Based, Phenolic Resin Based, Pitch Based), By Application (Air Purification, Water Treatment, Chemical Recovery, Catalyst Carrier), Industry Analysis Report, Regional Outlook, Growth Potential, Price Trends, Competitive Market Share & Forecast, 2021 - 2027

Industry Trends

Global Activated Carbon Fiber (ACF) Market size was valued at USD 922.9 million in 2020 and will showcase growth rate around 6.8% CAGR from the period 2021 to 2027, owing to rising environmental concerns related to water and air pollution across the globe. ACF is a fiber-shaped porous carbon with aspect ratio higher than 10. It is an excellent microporous material and has low mesoporosity.
 

Rising air pollution across the globe and several initiatives taken by regional economies to overcome air pollution issues are expected to drive the global activated carbon fiber market. The ACF has excellent nitrogen oxide removal capacity. The material inherently oxidizes NOx to convert into nitrate ions and desorb them into clean air.
 

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Emerging economies across the globe, such as Indonesia, India, and others, are experiencing high concentration of NOx and air pollutants in the city areas. This has resulted into high number of Asthma patients in the regions. The pilot projects, such as NOx reduction, started in September 2018 in Jakarta, Indonesia. The highways of Jakarta city are equipped with activated carbon fiber air purification units. The project reported measurable reduction in NOx concentration in the air.
 

Excellent properties of activated carbon fiber, such as greater rates of adsorption, owing to improved contact efficiency and high surface area are enabling it to be good substitutes for Granular Activated Carbon (GAC) in adsorbent applications. GAC and Powdered Activated Carbon (PAC) are conventionally used as absorbents in air and water purification treatment. However, GAC has certain limitations such as slow kinetics, costly reactivation, and limited design flexibility, pressurizing researchers to develop new technologies. ACFs are emerging as a new technology and may offer the potential to be used in short-term respiratory protection for first responders.
 

The rapid growth in the wastewater treatment industry is one of the major factors driving the global market. Growing water scarcity is likely to boost the demand for water treatment in Asia Pacific and North America regions, which is further expected to boost the global activated carbon fiber market share during the forecast period. Furthermore, the rising air pollution and GHG emissions are projected to spur the demand for air purification, thereby, propelling the usage of ACFs in air purifiers, filters, and other products.
 

The COVID-19 pandemic has adversely affected industries, such as water treatment, air purification, and chemical, thereby significantly impacting on the activated carbon fiber market revenue. A decline in demand from large industrial and commercial users due to lockdowns and travel restrictions adversely reduces revenues of water utilities during FY2020.
 

According to the Global Water Leaders Group’s survey, the industrial water demand dropped by an average of 27% due to COVID-19. Moreover, the lockdown in some economies, such as China, India, the U.S., Brazil, Italy, Spain, France, and the UK, has also affected the production and consumption of this product in many industries.
 

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Polyacrylonitrile (PAN) based ACF dominates market owing to good strength and proliferating supercapacitor sector

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Polyacrylonitrile (PAN) based ACF will showcase significant growth of around 7.5% CAGR from 2021 to 2027, owing to good tensile strength of the material. PAN is a synthetic thermoplastic semi-crystalline polymer. The production of PAN-based ACF comprises three steps, thermo-oxidative stabilization, carbonization, and controlled activation process. The material is largely used in applications including capacitor, catalyst, refiguration, and other applications. The rising demand for catalyst carriers along with ongoing developments in super capacitors will further drive the activated carbon fiber market segment growth over the study timeframe.
 

Rising health concern and start of several water treatment projects across globe are supporting product adoption

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Water treatment applications hold dominance in the industry and expected to generate over USD 525 million revenue by 2027. The dominance is owing to stringent government regulations along with rising health concern among people. The usage of ACF filters in new water purifiers along with the development of new fibers will further support the activated carbon fiber market growth.
 

Several ongoing pilot projects developed by universities and industry participants are offering new opportunities for industry expansion. For instance, in April 2017, Zhejiang Xin Ball Technology Development Co. Ltd. and Beijing University jointly launched a wastewater purification technology development project. The project is using PAN-based ACF for water treatment.
 

North America industry will drive the market

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North America is expected to hold dominance in the activated carbon fiber (ACF) market and held around 34% volumetric shares in 2020. The dominance is attributed to stringent government regulations, presence of industry participants, along with establishment of new passenger car production facilities in the region. The growing chemical industry in the region along with the rising number of people suffering from Chronic Kidney Decease (CKD) is expected to drive the demand for ACF products.
 

Asia Pacific is the major producer of ACF across the globe and expected to generate around USD 270 million revenue in 2020. The region has witnessed a high demand for activated carbon fiber products in the recent years owing to stringent air pollution regulations adopted by China, India, and other regional economies. Latin America and the MEA exhibit low to moderate growth owing to a limited distribution network in the region along with high import tax policies.
 

R&D investment and integration with several environment saving pilot projects are among key initiatives for enhancing competitiveness of industry

Key players engaged in the activated carbon fiber industry include Mitsubishi Rayon, Toyobo Co. Ltd., Awa Paper & Technological Company Inc., Osaka Gas Chemicals Co., Ltd., and Unitika Ltd., among others. Industry plyers are engaged in strategic collaboration, R&D investments, integration with several environment saving pilot projects among others to enhance their market shares.
 

For instance, In October 2018, Osaka Gas Co., Ltd. through its subsidiary, Osaka Gas Engineering Co., Ltd. started JICA adopted project in Indonesia. In this project, roadsides of Jakarta city have established ACF air purification units to limit NOx concentration and enhance air quality. This strategy enabled the company to enhance ACF product awareness for air purification applications.
 

Global activated carbon fiber (ACF) market report includes in-depth coverage of the industry with estimates & forecast in terms of volume in tons & revenue in USD million from 2017 to 2027 for the following segments:
 

By Material (Tons) (USD Million)

• Cellulose based
• Polyacrylonitrile (PAN) based
• Phenolic resin based
• Pitch based
• Others

By Application (Tons) (USD Million)

• Air Purification
• Water Treatment
• Chemical Recovery
• Catalyst Carrier
• Others

By Region (Tons) (USD Million)

• North America
  • U.S.
  • Canada
• Europe
  • UK
  • Germany
  • France
  • Italy
  • Spain
  • Russia
• Asia pacific
  • China
  • India
  • Japan
  • Australia
  • Indonesia
  • South Kore
• Latin America
  • Brazil
  • Mexico
• Middle East & Africa
  • South Africa
  • Saudi Arabia
  • UAE