Specialty Carbon Black Market by Form, Grade, Application & Global Forecast, 2025 - 2034

Specialty Carbon Black Market Size

The global specialty carbon black market size was estimated at USD 3 billion in 2024 and is estimated to grow at 7.8% CAGR from 2025 to 2034. The growing adoption of specialty carbon black in the lithium-ion batteries, along with increasing demand for the product in agriculture stretch wrap, mulch film, and refuse sack, are some driving factors affecting market demand.
 

The market's expansion has been characterized by a drastic increase in demand for high-performance additives that provide either conductivity, UV protection, and mechanical strength. Such a growing trend has enormous potential in boosting the demand for conductive and high-purity carbon black per fast expansion in the EV market and advances in battery technology.
 

Additionally, specialty carbon black finds a high application in masterbatches, conductive polymers, and packaging films, thereby contributing highly to market growth with plastics and polymer industries.
 

According to Statista Consumer Insights, in 2023, global rubber production amounted to 28.8 million metric tons, with the amount produced having grown by 11.1 million metric tons since 2000. The global consumption of rubber similarly fell to 28.8 million metric tons in 2023 from 29.9 million metric tons the previous year.  
 

Specialty Carbon Black Market Trends

• Rising demand in energy storage & electric vehicle (EV) batteries: Specialty carbon black is being utilized as a conductive additive in lithium-ion batteries used for power structures and batteries in EVs and energy storage systems due to the rapidly expanding market of electric vehicles (EVs). It is effective in enhancing electrical conductivity such that battery performance and longevity can be improved.
   

As EV sales continue to increase in today’s major markets in China, Europe and the United States, as well as expanding across more countries, demand for EV batteries is also set to grow quickly. In the STEPS, EV battery demand grows four-and-a-half times by 2030, and almost seven times by 2035 compared to 2023.
 

• Expansion in lightweight and high performance polymers: The automotive and aerospace industries are extensively moving into weight reduction to save fuels and meet stringent emission norms. Specialty carbon black is one of the major materials used in high-performance polymers and composites to enhance mechanical strength, durability, and UV protection.
   
• Shift towards sustainable manufacturing and low-emission: Sustainable production approaches are being pursued by manufacturers due to environment concerns and strict regulations about carbon emissions.
   

The ongoing climate crisis prompts carbon-intensive sectors to abolish their footprint. The UK plans to cut carbon emissions by 78% by 2035, starting to reach Net Zero Carbon Emissions by 2050.
 

• Advances in specialty carbon black for 3d printing and conductive inks: The pharmaceutical industry is turning towards specialty carbon black for its application as an excipient in various drug formulations. Specialty carbon black consumption is expected to rise with increasing demand for green chemistry practices in drug development.
   

Specialty Carbon Black Market Analysis

In 2024, specialty carbon black based on form is segmented into powder and granules. This market value is accounted for USD 3 billion in 2024 and anticipated to rise till staggering value of USD 6.3 billion till 2034. Among which powder segment accounted for 68.8% of total market.
 

• Powder acts as an essential ingredient in conductive polymers, lithium-ion batteries, and high-performance coatings, wherein their excellent particle size dispersion is enhanced with good performance of materials. The other major consumer of powders is the plastics industry, mainly in packaging and automotive applications.
   
• Granules specialty carbon black possesses a significantly low market across all applications but is gaining popularity because it is dust-free and exhibits better process efficiency.
   

In 2024, the specialty carbon black market in grade is primarily segmented into conductive carbon black, fiber carbon black, food-grade carbon black, and others. Which is dominated by conductive carbon black, holding a significant 35.6% market share, followed by fiber carbon black segment.
 

• Specialty carbon black is extensively used in applications such as lithium-ion batteries, conductive polymers, and coatings, which are high performance. Demand has been driven greatly by the penetration of electrification into vehicles and energy storage systems in the past few years, as conductive carbon black improves electrical conductivity, charge retention, and storage life of battery applications.
   
• The electric vehicle (EV) market is growing rapidly, with global revenue expected to be USD 784.2 billion by 2025. The market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 6.01% from 2025 to 2029, reaching USD 990.4 billion in 2029; moreover, EV unit sales are expected to reach 17.36 million by 2029, indicating that electrification of the automotive sector is underway.
   

Tariff impact

President Donald Trump, in March 2025, further escalated the trade tensions after imposing a 25% tariff on goods imported from Canada and Mexico along with a 10% tariff for China, citing national security while trying to correct trade distortions. China is a key supplier of strategic minerals and carbonaceous materials essential for use in clean technologies.
 

These tariffs will impact the specialty carbon market significantly. Rising costs and supply chain disruptions will market prices for industries dependent on these resources. Further export restrictions on essential minerals and retaliatory tariffs from China have built more pressure on specialty carbon markets, causing insecurity in long-term supply conditions and compelling manufacturers to reconsider their supply chains.
 

In 2024, the application segment is moderately concentrated on rubber segment, holding 38.7% of the market share.
 

• The supremacy of the rubber segment comes from the widespread use of rubber products in tire and non-tire applications, providing reinforcement, UV protection, and conductivity.
   
• In financial year 2023, the total tire production in India stood at around 217.4 million units. This was an increase of six percent over the preceding year. This volume comprised of tires made for trucks, buses, two and three-wheeler vehicles, passenger cars, light commercial vehicles, farm/tractors, OTR tires among others.
   
• In plastics, specialty carbon black enhances UV resistance, conductivity, and pigmentation in automotive, construction, and packaging applications. The strong push for lightweight components in EVs and high-performance polymers is accelerating the growth of this segment.
   
• The UV cured coatings market worldwide had a value of some five billion U.S. dollars in 2023, an increase compared to 2018, when the value was some USD 4.2 billion. It is forecast that the global UV cured coatings market size will reach some USD 6.3 billion in 2030.

The U.S. has high demand due to the involvement of factors like automotive and aerospace, and energy storage industries. The U.S. has significant share in the global specialty carbon black market, holding 16.1% share of the market which estimates to USD 490 million in 2024 and anticipated to rise till USD 1.06 billion by 2034.
 

• U.S. remains the largest regional market for specialty carbon black. Demand is being further boosted with investments in sustainable manufacture and bio-based alternatives such as the U.S. BioPreferred Program.
   
• Asia Pacific leads the global specialty carbon black market. China, Japan, and India are the driving countries. The area has a lion's share from rapid industrialization, high vehicle production, and a robust investment in manufacturing EV batteries.
   
• Currently, China is producing more than 60% of EV batteries in the world, backed by government incentives and policies to promote clean energy. The expanding construction sector and high demand for performance-grade plastics, coatings, and packaging solutions have contributed significantly to APAC leadership.
   

Specialty Carbon Black Market Share

The competitive environment in the specialty carbon black industry is driven by the key players such as Birla Carbon, Cabot Corporation, Orion Engineered Carbons GmbH, Tokai Carbon Co., Ltd., and Asahi Carbon Co., Ltd., operating with different strategies to hold their positions in the market.
 

• Birla Carbon is the clear upfront leader in the industry. It has an edge over all other competitors because of its global manufacturing network and initiatives for sustainable carbon black solutions. The company is also enhancing its competitive edge by investing in bio-based and low carbon specialty carbon black products, keeping pace with sustainability goals set for the forthcoming years and regulatory shifts.
   
• Cabot Corporation puts its might behind its groomed R&D strategies with acquisitions that are keenly focused on future development. It is known to vigorously expand plant capacities to make specialty carbon blacks primarily for high performance applications in lithium-ion batteries, conductive polymers, and coatings.
   
• High-quality specialty carbon black for automotive and industrial applications is the stake of Asahi Carbon Co., Ltd. Apart from production efficiency, the company is investing in sustainability initiatives, such as energy-efficient manufacture and recycling technologies, to further fortify its position intact in market competitiveness and changing standards in the industry. ?
   

Specialty Carbon Black Market Companies

The specialty carbon black industry encompasses numerous significant and prominent players applying diverse strategies to expand their market presence and offering values for chemical solutions.
 

• Atlas Organics Private Limited is into sustainable carbon black production from bio-based feedstocks and the circular economy principles. Atlas Organics is in collaboration with local manufacturers to improve supply chains to provide eco-friendly carbon black solutions.
   
• Black Bear Carbon B.V. is a forerunner in successfully recovering carbon black from waste tires employing the principles of circular technology. This ongoing expansion will be replicated in the rest of Europe where Black Bear will also have more funding for the newly established recycling plants.
   
• Continental Carbon Company has been focusing on producing specialty carbon black with high purity and low emissions. The company also extended its footprint in the U.S. and China to cater to the increasing demand from automotive and industrial coating industries.
   
• Denka Company Limited is a manufacturer of high-performance carbon black that is used in advanced applications such as lithium-ion batteries and specialty elastomers.
   
• Orion Engineered Carbons GmbH is venturing into high-performance specialty carbon blacks for coatings, batteries, and industrial applications. The company invests in process optimization and sustainability initiatives, including energy-efficient production.
   
• Phillips Carbon Black Limited, part of RPG Group, has continued to expand its manufacturing capabilities in India and Southeast Asia. The investment is also focused on R&D into applications of Conductive and High-Performance Carbon Black.
   

Specialty Carbon Black Industry News

• In January 2024, Birla Carbon announced Greenfield Expansions in the Asia Pacific region. The company shall expand its carbon black capacity by over 240 kilotons in the identified locations of India and Thailand.
   
• In November 2023, Cabot Corporation launched a novel product family “REPLASBLAK” with certified material. The company launched three products with this launch that are sold as its first certified black master-batch products, such as (ISCC PLUS) International Sustainability & Carbon Certification.
   
• In May 2023, Orion Engineered Carbons expanded its production capacity for gas black in Germany. With this capacity expansion, the company strengthened its leadership in the specialty carbon black market.
   
• In December 2022, Asahi Kasei has developed basic technology for recycling continuous carbon fiber under a project “Circular Economy Program for the Automotive Carbon Fiber” (the Project), together with National Institute of Technology, Kitakyushu College, and Tokyo University of Science, which was supported by the Feasibility Study Program on Energy and New Environmental Technology, of the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO) from fiscal 2021 to 2022.
   
• In October 2021, Cabot Corporation launched VULCAN 3-LP carbon black, a new low Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon (PAH) product for rubber applications. The launch would help the company demonstrate its ongoing commitment to providing innovative solutions in response to the product performance needs of its customers
   

The specialty carbon black market research report includes an in-depth coverage of the industry with estimates and forecast in terms of revenue in USD Billion and volume in kilo tons  from 2021 – 2034 for the following segments:

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Market, By Form

• Powder
• Granules

Market, By Grade

• Conductive carbon black
• Fiber carbon black
• Food-grade carbon black
• Others

Market, By Application

• Rubber
• Plastics
• Printing inks & toners
• Paints & coatings
• Battery electrodes
• Others

The above information is provided for the following regions and countries:

• North America 
  • U.S.
  • Canada
• Europe 
  • Germany
  • UK
  • France
  • Spain
  • Italy
  • Russia
• Asia Pacific 
  • China
  • India
  • Japan
  • Australia
  • South Korea
• Latin America 
  • Brazil
  • Mexico
  • Argentina
• Middle East and Africa 
  • Saudi Arabia
  • South Africa
  • UAE