Report Overview
A spurring demand for activated carbon from the thriving pharmaceutical industry and air purification systems is expected to boost the growth of Saudi Arabia Activated Carbon Market during the forecast period between 2024 and 2030.

Saudi Arabia Activated Carbon Market - Industry Trends & Forecast Report, 2030

Saudi Arabia Activated Carbon Market size was estimated to be worth USD 59.72 million in 2023. During the forecast period between 2024 and 2030, Saudi Arabia Activated Carbon Market size is projected to grow at a CAGR of 6.01%, reaching a value of USD 89.87 million by 2030. Major growth factors for Saudi Arabia Activated Carbon Market include its diverse application across various industries, including chemicals, food and beverage, pharmaceuticals, and others. The high demand for activated carbon in the water treatment process plays a major role in driving Activated Carbon Market growth in Saudi Arabia since the Kingdom is a water-scarce country.

Saudi Arabia Activated Carbon Market

Activated Carbon - Overview

Activated carbon, also known as activated charcoal, is a form of carbon that has been processed to have a highly porous structure and a large surface area, making it extremely effective at absorbing (binding) a wide range of substances, including chemicals, toxins, and impurities. Due to its porous nature, activated carbon can trap molecules and particles from gases and liquids, making it commonly used in water purification, air filtration, industrial processing, and medical treatments such as detoxification for poisonings or overdoses. Its effectiveness is enhanced by its large surface area, which allows it to capture more contaminants.

Saudi Arabia Activated Carbon Market

Growth Drivers

Demand from Thriving Oil & Gas Sector

The expanding oil and gas sector is one of the major factors driving Saudi Arabia Activated Carbon Market. The demand for activated carbon is high in the oil and gas sector due to its various applications, including oil refining, petrochemical production, and gas processing activities. Activated carbon plays a critical role in the refining process, where it is used for purifying various chemical streams, removing impurities from gas streams, and ensuring the quality of end products. Furthermore, the industry is also focused on improving its operational efficiency and reducing its environmental impact, which further drives the demand for activated carbon in the Kingdom, propelling its overall market growth.

Challenges

Limited Demand from Non-oil Sectors

Saudi Arabia is heavily reliant on its oil and gas industry, which could limit the demand for activated carbon from other sectors, including pharmaceutical or environmental sustainability. Activated carbon is an essential element in air and water purification processes. However, the high demand for activated carbon from industries attributed to fossil fuels may hinder its growth in other sectors. Moreover, the adoption of eco-friendly technologies is still in its early stages, and the growth has been rather slow. There is limited local production capacity for activated carbon, which means the country relies on imports, which further limits the Saudi Arabia Activated Carbon Market.

Impact of Escalating Geopolitical Tensions on Saudi Arabia Activated Carbon Market

Escalating geopolitical tensions could impact several aspects of Saudi Arabia Activated Carbon Market. With rising tensions, particularly in regions around Saudi Arabia, the country could potentially face supply chain disruptions for key raw materials used in the production of activated carbon, which may cause shortages and price hikes for manufacturers. Volatility in oil prices due to fluctuations in global energy markets could directly increase the manufacturing expenses of activated carbon since its production is an energy-intensive process. If oil prices surge due to geopolitical issues, production of activated carbon could be more expensive, pushing up prices for consumers in sectors that rely on it.

Saudi Arabia Activated Carbon Market

Segmental Coverage

Saudi Arabia Activated Carbon Market - By Type

Based on type, Saudi Arabia Activated Carbon Market is segmented into powdered, granular, and others. The powdered segment holds the largest share of Saudi Arabia Activated Carbon Market. Powdered activated carbon has a higher absorption capacity because of its smaller particle size, which results in a larger surface-to-volume ratio. However, the granular activated carbon segment also covers a substantial market share owing to its use in the water treatment processes both as an absorbent and a filter. Furthermore, extensive research and development activities by industry players around granular activated carbon are projected to provide lucrative growth opportunities to the segment.

Saudi Arabia Activated Carbon Market - By Application

On the basis of application, Saudi Arabia Activated Carbon Market is segmented into liquid phase and gas phase. The gas phase application accounts for a higher market share. Activated carbon is used in many gas phase applications, including gas purification, toxic gas retention, air purification, gas separation, and gas storage. The expanding oil and gas industry of Saudi Arabia propels the demand for activated carbon for gas separation to separate components of air, such as carbon dioxide from natural gas, and to store gasses, such as hydrogen and natural gas, which drives its market.

Saudi Arabia Activated Carbon Market Size

Saudi Arabia Activated Carbon Market - By End User Industry

Based on end user industry, Saudi Arabia Activated Carbon Market is segmented into water treatment, food & beverage processing, pharmaceutical & medical, automotive, air purification, and others. The water treatment segment dominates Saudi Arabia Activated Carbon Market. Activated carbon is one of the major components of the water treatment process and is used to remove organic chemicals and control taste and odor. Saudi Arabia significantly invests in water treatment to overcome water scarcity issues in the country. The Kingdom built 133 wastewater treatment facilities in 2021, according to data published by the International Trade Administration. With increasing water usage across various sectors and industries, the demand for water treatment is projected to rise, driving the Activated Carbon Market growth.

Competitive Landscape

Saudi Arabia Activated Carbon Market is highly competitive, as a number of companies are competing to gain a significant market share. Key players in the market include Cabot Corp., Kuraray Co. Ltd, Kureha Corp., Osaka Gas Co. Ltd, Evoqua Water Technologies, Carbios SA, Saudi Carbonate Company, and Al-Jazeera Factory. To further enhance their market share, these companies employ various strategies, including mergers and acquisitions, partnerships, joint ventures, license agreements, and new product launches.

Key Players

Cabot Corp, Kuraray Co Ltd, Kureha Corp, Osaka Gas Co Ltd, Evoqua Water Technologies, Carbios SA, Saudi Carbonate Company, Al-Jazeera Factory

By Type
Powdered
Granular
Others

By Application
Liquid Phase
Gas Phase

By End User Industry
Water Treatment
Food & Beverage Processing
Pharmaceutical & Medical
Automotive
Air Purification
Others