# Market Intelligence Analysis of Non-Waterproof Honeycomb Activated Carbon (May 27, 2026)

## I. Market Price Dynamics (May 20–24, 2026)
| Specification (Iodine Number) | Dimensions (cm) | Henan Kaijie Quotation (CNY/m3) | Henan Sentie Quotation (CNY/m3) | Henan Huiyihai Quotation (CNY/ton) | Price Trend |
|------------------------------|------------------|-----------------------------------|------------------------------------|--------------------------------------|-------------|
| Low iodine | 10×10×10 | 1,100–1,250 | 2,500 | — | Fluctuating within low-price range |
| Iodine No. 300 | 10×10×10 | 1,300 | — | — | Stable |
| Iodine No. 400 | 10×10×5 | 2,100 | 2,900 | — | Stable |
| Iodine No. 400 | 10×10×10 | — | 2,900 | — | — |
| Iodine No. 500 | 10×10×10 | 2,500 | 3,300 | — | Stable |
| Iodine No. 600 | 10×10×10 | 3,000 | 4,620 | — | Stable |
| Iodine No. 800 | 10×10×10 | 4,000 | 6,500 | — | Stable |
| Iodine No. 300–600 | Bulk | — | — | 1,800 | Persistently stable |

**Key Findings:**
1. **Pronounced Price Stratification:** Low-iodine products are priced as low as CNY 1,100/m3, whereas high-iodine (800) products reach up to CNY 6,500/m3; for every 200-unit increase in iodine number, price rises approximately 40%–60%.
2. **Bulk-Purchase Price Advantage:** Henan Huiyihai’s bulk pricing for iodine numbers 300–600 remains stably at CNY 1,800/ton—equivalent to approximately CNY 1,800–2,000/m3 (based on density estimation)—which is lower than segmented retail prices for comparable iodine-number grades.
3. **Brand Premium:** Henan Sentie’s quotations consistently exceed those of Henan Kaijie by 20%–50%, reflecting its market positioning or perceived quality differentiation.

## II. Driving Factor Analysis
1. **Structural Demand Diversification**
- **Industrial Exhaust Gas Treatment Dominates:** According to QY Research data, factory organic exhaust gas treatment accounted for 46% of the global honeycomb activated carbon market in 2026; VOCs abatement demand is driving growth in high-iodine-number product demand.
- **Stringent Regulation in Food & Pharmaceutical Sectors:** Leading enterprises (e.g., Master Kong, Qilu Pharmaceutical) require suppliers to provide batch stability data and hygiene/safety certifications, thereby compelling demand for medium- to high-iodine-number products.
- **Cost-Sensitive Applications:** Industries such as electroplating and textiles prefer low-iodine-number products to control costs.

2. **Supply-Side Competitive Landscape**
- **Technological Barriers among Industry Leaders:** Companies such as Hongsheng Activated Carbon have established product differentiation through dual-process activation technologies (physical + chemical), achieving high specific surface areas (>1,200 m2/g) and water-resistant performance.
- **Price Competition among SMEs:** Enterprises including Henan Kaijie and Hengyi adopt aggressive low-price strategies to compete in mid-to-low-end markets, though concerns persist regarding quality consistency (e.g., iodine number variability in low-iodine products may compromise adsorption efficiency).
- **Regional Production Concentration:** Henan Province accounts for over 60% of China’s national production capacity; logistical cost advantages bolster local enterprises’ pricing competitiveness.

3. **Policy and Cost Pressures**
- **Tightening Environmental Regulations:** Following revisions to China’s *Comprehensive Emission Standards for Air Pollutants*, VOCs emission limits have been tightened by 30%, prompting enterprises to upgrade exhaust treatment equipment and indirectly boosting demand for high-iodine-number activated carbon.
- **Raw Material Cost Volatility:** Prices of raw materials such as coconut shell and coal are influenced by international markets; however, no significant fluctuations have occurred recently, limiting their impact on end-product pricing.

## III. Future Trend Forecast (2026–2027)
1. **Price Outlook**
- **Short Term (Next 6 Months):** Prices for iodine-number 300–600 products will remain stable around CNY 1,800/ton; high-iodine-number (≥800) products—due to high technical barriers—will maintain firm pricing.
- **Long Term (1–2 Years):** As industry concentration increases, leading enterprises may leverage economies of scale to reduce mid-to-low-end product pricing, while premium pricing will persist in the high-end segment driven by customization requirements.

2. **Evolving Demand Structure**
- **Growing Share of High-Iodine Products:** The market share of iodine-number ≥600 products is projected to rise from the current 35% to 45% by 2027, primarily driven by demand from pharmaceutical and electronics industries.
- **Accelerated Penetration of Waterproof Products:** Waterproof honeycomb activated carbon launched by firms such as Hongsheng is gaining broader application in high-humidity industrial settings (e.g., chemical industrial parks), potentially eroding market share for conventional non-waterproof alternatives.

3. **Competitive Landscape Evolution**
- **Ecosystem Leadership by Top-Tier Firms:** Enterprises offering integrated end-to-end services—including production, testing, application support, and after-sales—(e.g., Hongsheng’s “Production–Testing–Application–After-sales” system) will dominate the market; SMEs may focus instead on regional niche segments.
- **International Benchmarking:** Domestic manufacturers must obtain international certifications (e.g., ISO 9001, NSF) to expand overseas operations; products meeting drinking water hygiene standards will hold greater export competitiveness.

## IV. Risks and Opportunities
**Risks**
- **Subpar Policy Enforcement:** Relaxed local environmental oversight could delay the replacement cycle favoring high-iodine-number products.
- **Sharp Raw Material Price Surges:** Supply disruptions for coconut shell and other raw materials—caused by climate events or trade policy shifts—could significantly raise production costs.

**Opportunities**
- **Emerging Markets Expansion:** Accelerated industrialization in South America and the Middle East is expected to generate compound annual demand growth of 8%–10% between 2026 and 2032.
- **Technology Upgrade Dividends:** Surface modification and nano-scale activated carbon innovations can enhance product value-added; enterprises pursuing R&D breakthroughs stand to capture premium segments of the high-end market.