Europe Activated Carbon Fiber (ACF) Market size exceeded USD 278 million in 2020 and is predicted to register a growth of 6.2% from 2021 to 2027.

Europe Market, By Application

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Rising ecological concerns across the globe related to water and air pollution are likely to drive the Europe activated carbon fiber market. Activated carbon fibers are excellent microporous materials that are effectively used for the removal of nitrogen oxide to clean the air. It can replace conventional absorbents, such as Granular Activated Carbon, owing to its greater rate of absorption. Rapidly increasing air pollution and several government initiatives to overcome air pollution are strongly supporting the regional market growth. The usage of ACF filters in passenger cars, roadside units, and other devices in developed economies has resulted in excellent NOx and other pollutant adsorption, boosting the market expansion in Europe.

European countries are experiencing issues of high NO_x concentration and other air pollutants owing to the industrial development and rapid increase in fleet vehicles across the region. The Europe activated carbon fiber (ACF) market will witness considerable growth owing to the growing population, rising per capita income, and adoption of stringent wastewater regulations across the region. This trend has showcased a strong demand for water purifiers along with the development of new fibers, which will significantly fuel the industry size. Additionally, Germany, the UK, France, Italy, and Spain are primarily contributing to the market revenue growth due to increasing development activities in this region. Further, investments in the regional chemical and fertilizer industries will strongly impel the industry demand.

Europe Market, By Material

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The pitch-based segment accounted for over 26.4% industry share in 2020. Pitch-based ACFs offer versatile properties including improved specific strength and modulus. It also exhibits a high degree of anisotropy with regards to electrical, mechanical, magnetic, thermal, and chemical properties. Therefore, ACFs are used in a wide range of applications including water & air purification, chemical, and electronics. The growing demand for water treatment products in Europe along with stringent wastewater processing regulations is driving the usage of ACF products. Unburned hydrocarbon from automotive emissions is a growing concern in developed countries due to its negative effects on public health and the environment. As pitch-based activated carbon fibers are derived from steam activation, they are widely used for hydrocarbon removal.

ACF manufacturers are suffering from high ACF processing costs and a lack of raw materials. Due to these factors, the price of the final product is very high. Pitch-based products will observe the highest price over the coming years, which may restrict product growth. Furthermore, the COVID-19 pandemic has adversely impacted the activated carbon fiber market owing to the shortage of raw materials, disruption in production, and financial crisis across industries.

Competitive Industry Landscape

Key companies operating in the Europe activated carbon fiber (ACF) market are Mitsubishi Rayon, Jacobi Carbons AB (Osaka Gas Chemicals Co., Ltd.), Zoltek (Toray Group), Kuraray Co., Ltd., Toyobo Co., Ltd., and OJSC, among others. Activated carbon fiber manufacturers are continuously focusing on the research & development of innovative designs and functionalities to gain competitive advantages.