The global activated carbon market in 2025 has undergone a pronounced shift, characterized by tightening supply, sharp price escalations, and strong regional trade dynamics. During January–June 2025, worldwide imports of activated carbon reached 629,390 metric tons (MT), an 18% decline compared with the same period in 2024. In value terms, imports stood at USD 1.6 billion, representing a 9% fall. This downturn signals a reversal from the growth trajectory observed in 2024, pointing to significant supply shortages that constrained trade volumes despite resilient demand across key sectors such as water purification, air treatment, and industrial applications.

Between January and July 2025, U.S. imports of coconut shell charcoal–based activated carbon expanded robustly, reaching 30,460 MT valued at USD 76.22 million. This represented an 11% increase in volume compared with both 2024 (27,451 MT) and 2023 (27,340 MT). More notably, the average import price surged to USD 2,502/MT, significantly higher than USD 2,078/MT in 2024 and USD 2,237/MT in 2023. This escalation in prices, together with higher volumes, drove import values up by 33.6% year-on-year and 24.7% compared with 2023. These developments underscore robust U.S. demand amid tightening global supply and rising production costs. In effect, 2025 has emerged as a year of both expanding import volumes and stronger price realization for the American market, reinforcing its position as a leading destination for coconut shell–based activated carbon.

India maintained its role as one of the largest exporters of coconut shell–based activated carbon, although supply constraints shaped trade flows. From January to July 2025, exports totaled 98,347 MT valued at USD 239.91 million. This marked a slight contraction in volume, down 3.1% from 101,480 MT in 2024, though shipments remained well above the 80,975 MT exported in 2023. The most striking trend was the surge in export value: earnings climbed 41% from USD 170.23 million in 2024 and 67% higher than USD 143.19 million in 2023. This steep rise in value reflects higher average unit prices, a clear indicator that global buyers were willing to absorb cost increases amid tight supply from competing origins. India thus sustained its export strength while capitalizing on favorable pricing conditions.

Sri Lanka’s exports during January–June 2025 revealed contrasting dynamics, with declining volumes but stronger revenues. Exports fell to 27,761 MT, 6% lower than the 29,590 MT shipped in 2024, largely due to shortages of coconut shells linked to reduced production. Despite this drop, export earnings rose sharply by 19% to USD 86.42 million, compared with USD 72.73 million in 2024. Month-on-month data show shipments consistently trailing 2024 levels; however, higher global prices enabled revenue gains. This performance underscores Sri Lanka’s continued competitiveness in supplying premium-grade activated carbon, benefiting from elevated international price levels even in the face of raw material constraints.

Indonesia’s trade in activated carbon remained relatively stable in 2025, though with slight volume declines offset by rising values. In January–June 2025, exports stood at 8,152 MT valued at USD 11.80 million. Compared with 2024, shipments fell marginally by 0.4% (8,183 MT), while remaining lower than the 8,890 MT recorded in 2023. Yet, export value increased by 6% year-on-year due to higher unit prices, which rose from USD 1,379/MT in 2024 to USD 1,443/MT in 2025. This indicates that even as Indonesia faced similar raw material supply challenges from reduced coconut production, international demand remained strong enough to sustain revenue growth. Indonesia’s larger production capacities and relatively lower cost structures also enabled it to supply competitively, absorbing part of the feedstock price escalation.

The Philippines showed signs of recovery in 2025 after a contraction in 2024. Between January and July, exports reached 35,262 MT, up from 31,728 MT in 2024 and nearly matching 2023’s 36,463 MT. Export values climbed to USD 68.5 million, exceeding both 2023 (USD 63.0 million) and 2024 (USD 54.0 million). Monthly results showed particularly strong performance in May and June, when values outpaced previous years despite comparable or lower volumes. The trend demonstrates both volume recovery and enhanced unit values, suggesting improved supply conditions and stronger global prices.

The most defining feature of 2025 has been the unprecedented surge in coconut shell charcoal (CSC) prices across producing countries. Between December 2024 and July 2025, prices soared as follows: Sri Lanka from USD 522/MT to USD 860/MT, Indonesia from USD 622/MT to USD 1,045/MT, and India from USD 551/MT to USD 983/MT. These increases stand in stark contrast to the modest and steady rises of 2023–2024. The price escalation was primarily driven by supply shortages arising from reduced coconut production, which sharply constrained shell availability. Simultaneously, demand remained firm from the activated carbon and briquette industries, amplifying the upward pressure on prices.

Activated carbon prices mirrored these trends, with significant divergence across supply origins. Sri Lanka witnessed the steepest increases, with premium-grade activated carbon surging above USD 3,400/MT in May 2025 before stabilizing slightly above USD 3,100/MT in June. This compares with the USD 2,700–2,900/MT range prevailing through most of 2023–2024. Indonesia, by contrast, maintained relatively contained export prices at USD 1,300–1,600/MT, reflecting the cushioning effect of larger capacities and lower production costs. This divergence illustrates how structural differences among producing countries influenced their ability to absorb feedstock shocks and manage price volatility.

Looking ahead, the outlook for both coconut shell charcoal and activated carbon remains tilted toward continued tightness and elevated prices. Unless coconut production recovers significantly, shell supply is expected to remain constrained throughout the remainder of 2025 and into 2026. Sustained demand growth—particularly from sectors such as water purification, gold recovery, and environmental applications—suggests limited room for downward price adjustments.