Market Dynamics Intelligence Analysis of Columnar Coal-Based Activated Carbon

I. Market Price Dynamics
1. Benchmark Price Fluctuations
- On May 26, 2026, the Business Society’s benchmark price stood at RMB 16,850 per ton, an increase of RMB 500 per ton (3% daily growth) from RMB 16,350 per ton on May 25.
- During the week of May 18–22, prices remained stable at RMB 12,833 per ton; however, the price range for columnar coal-based activated carbon with iodine number around 1,000 mg/g was RMB 8,200–9,500 per ton, indicating segmentation and divergence within niche markets.

2. Regional Price Disparities
- Henan Province: Henan Sentihuanbao Technology Co., Ltd. quoted RMB 3,500 per ton on April 15 for a low-specification product (iodine number 200 mg/g); this figure likely reflects pricing for inferior-grade material and differs significantly from mainstream market levels.
- Hubei Province: Wuhan Hengjiu Chemical Co., Ltd. offered RMB 1,400 per ton for a comparable specification (4 mm diameter, iodine number 600 mg/g), illustrating the depressed pricing for low-iodine-number products.

3. Historical Price Trends
- In January 2026, supply shortages of coconut-shell carbonized feedstock from Southeast Asia—coupled with rising transportation costs—caused coconut-shell activated carbon prices to rise by 0.26% weekly; coal-based activated carbon, however, remained largely unaffected.
- The average price for coal-based columnar activated carbon in Hubei Province was RMB 1,400 per ton in August 2025, while Henan Province’s average reached RMB 3,500 per ton in April 2026—evidence of an upward shift in the pricing center driven primarily by raw material cost inflation.

II. Market Drivers Analysis
1. Strengthened Environmental Policies
- Upgraded environmental governance in 2026 has boosted demand for industrial exhaust gas and wastewater treatment, reinforcing coal-based columnar activated carbon’s position as the preferred material due to its high mechanical strength and superior regenerability.
- Stricter VOCs emission standards mandate the use of high-iodine-number (≥900 mg/g) and low-ash-content (15% year-on-year growth, driving overall product premiumization.
- Customization demand is surging: End-users increasingly specify precise requirements—such as pore size distribution and surface functionalization—pressuring manufacturers to bolster R&D investment.

3. Accelerated Industry Consolidation
- Regulatory enforcement is prompting non-compliant SMEs to exit the market, further elevating industry concentration; the CR10 (combined market share of the top ten enterprises) is projected to exceed 50%.
- Cross-sector collaboration is intensifying: Activated carbon producers are forming strategic alliances with environmental engineering firms and equipment manufacturers to deliver integrated “product + service” solutions.