activated carbon

World demand for activated carbon is forecast to expand around 5.0 percent per year through 2009 to over 1.2 million metric tons in 2010. The largest, most mature markets -- North America, Western Europe and Japan -- despite slower growth will continue to account for over half of demand in 2010. However, greater growth opportunities will generally occur in other developing geographic markets, primarily the emerging industrial economies of Asia. China will increase its share of the global activated carbon market to around 15 percent in 2010. Smaller markets, including Latin America, Eastern Europe and the Africa/Mideast region, will also record above-average gains. In most developed nations, the water treatment and motor vehicle markets for activated carbon have attained a high level of maturity and offer weak growth prospects. In these countries, activated carbon use in the pharmaceutical and medical sectors offers strongest growth prospects. In developing markets, gains will be driven by increasing industrial output and a greater emphasis on environmental issues. This will particularly spur new growth in water treatment applications, already the largest single market in developed regions. In addition, other environmental applications for activated carbon such as flue gas treatment and hazardous waste remediation will boost demand throughout the world. Another area of strong growth will include use in specialized motor vehicle filtration products, particularly cabin air filters.