Adsorbents Global Market Report 2026

Adsorbents refer to insoluble materials characterized by liquid coatings on their surfaces, which typically include capillaries and pores. These materials play a crucial role in chemical absorption, where a specific component is captured on the surface of the material.

The primary types of adsorbents available in the market encompass molecular sieves, activated carbon, silica gel, clay, and other variations. Molecular sieves stand out as crystalline metal aluminosilicates featuring a three-dimensional network of silica and alumina tetrahedra. These materials find diverse applications in water treatment, air separation, packaging, gas refining, and various other industrial processes. The end-users benefiting from the use of adsorbents span across pharmaceutical, commercial, industrial, petrochemical, and other sectors.

Note that the outlook for this market is being affected by rapid changes in trade relations and tariffs globally. The report will be updated prior to delivery to reflect the latest status, including revised forecasts and quantified impact analysis. The report's Recommendations and Conclusions sections will be updated to give strategies for entities dealing with the fast-moving international environment.

Tariffs are influencing the adsorbents market by increasing costs of imported raw materials, activation chemicals, processing equipment, and specialty formulations. North America and Europe are most affected due to reliance on imported activated carbon and molecular sieves, while Asia-Pacific faces cost pressure on export-oriented adsorbent production. These tariffs are increasing product prices and procurement costs. However, they are also supporting local adsorbent manufacturing, alternative material development, and supply chain diversification.

The adsorbents market research report is one of a series of new reports from The Business Research Company that provides adsorbents market statistics, including adsorbents industry global market size, regional shares, competitors with a adsorbents market share, detailed adsorbents market segments, market trends and opportunities, and any further data you may need to thrive in the adsorbents industry. This adsorbents market research report delivers a complete perspective of everything you need, with an in-depth analysis of the current and future scenario of the industry.

The adsorbents market size has grown strongly in recent years. It will grow from $5.23 billion in 2025 to $5.62 billion in 2026 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.5%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to expansion of industrial water treatment facilities, growth of petrochemical refining activities, rising demand for air purification, increased use in pharmaceutical manufacturing, availability of diverse adsorbent materials.

The adsorbents market size is expected to see strong growth in the next few years. It will grow to $7.35 billion in 2030 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.9%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to increasing investments in clean water infrastructure, rising demand for carbon capture and gas separation, expansion of food and pharmaceutical packaging, growing focus on sustainable adsorbent materials, increasing industrial emission control requirements. Major trends in the forecast period include rising use of advanced adsorbents in water treatment, growing demand for gas purification solutions, expansion of adsorbents in pharmaceutical processing, increasing adoption in packaging moisture control, enhanced performance of high-surface-area materials.

The rapid pace of industrialization is expected to drive the growth of the adsorbents market in the coming years. Industrialization refers to the shift of an economy from primarily agrarian-based to one centered on manufacturing and industry, typically involving technological innovation, increased production capacity, and urbanization. This trend is accelerating due to technological advancements, rising global demand for goods, and the need for economic growth and infrastructure development, especially in emerging economies. Adsorbents are essential in industrial processes to remove impurities and contaminants from gases or liquids, ensuring product purity, enhancing process efficiency, and meeting environmental regulations. For example, in July 2023, according to Statistics Canada, approximately 19.5% of manufacturing businesses planned to expand their current operations within the next 12 months, more than double the 8.2% observed in the arts, entertainment, and recreation sector and nearly triple the overall business average of 6.7%. Additionally, over 5.5% of manufacturing businesses had intentions to expand internationally, compared with 5.3% in arts, entertainment, and recreation, and 4.5% in wholesale trade. Therefore, rapid industrialization is fueling the growth of the adsorbents market.

Key companies in the adsorbents market are focusing on developing technologically advanced products, such as bio-based adsorbents, to improve air quality and comply with rising environmental standards. Bio-based adsorbents are sustainable materials derived from natural biomass, including plants and agricultural byproducts, used to selectively remove pollutants from air, water, or industrial processes. For instance, in May 2024, Adsorbi AB, a Sweden-based startup, launched a cellulose-based air purification material. This high-performance, bio-based adsorbent, made from cellulose sourced from Nordic forests and produced in Europe, offers exceptional durability and adsorption capacity, outperforming activated carbon. It is particularly suited for museums and archives, with a color indicator that signals when replacement is needed, ensuring optimal air purification during the storage and transport of artwork.

In April 2024, Zeochem, a Switzerland-based provider of molecular sieves, chromatography gels, deuterated compounds, and adsorbent solutions, acquired Sorbead India and Swambe Chemicals for an undisclosed amount. This acquisition enables Zeochem to expand its presence in the adsorbents market, strengthen its global manufacturing footprint, and enhance its portfolio in adsorption and moisture-control technologies. Sorbead India and Swambe Chemicals are India-based manufacturers of adsorbents serving industrial, pharmaceutical, and packaging sectors.

Major companies operating in the adsorbents market are Arkema SA, Axens SA, BASF SE, Cabot Corporation, Clariant AG, Calgon Carbon Corporation, Graver Technologies LLC, Sorbead India, Adsorbents Carbons, Universal Carbons, Global Absorbents Pvt. Ltd., Zeolyst International, Ashapura Minechem Ltd., Zeotec Adsorbents Private Limited, Raj Carbon Pvt. Ltd., Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation, PQ Corporation, Zeochem AG, Purolite Ltd., Sunresin New Materials Co. Ltd., Lanxess AG, W. R. Grace & Co., Kuraray Co. Ltd.

Asia-Pacific was the largest region in the adsorbents market in 2025. The regions covered in the adsorbents market report are Asia-Pacific, South East Asia, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, Africa

The countries covered in the adsorbents market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Taiwan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain

Adsorbents market consists of sales of activated alumina, and polymeric adsorbent. Values in this market are 'factory gate' values, that is the value of goods sold by the manufacturers or creators of the goods, whether to other entities (including downstream manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors, and retailers) or directly to end customers. The value of goods in this market includes related services sold by the creators of the goods.

The market value is defined as the revenues that enterprises gain from the sale of goods and/or services within the specified market and geography through sales, grants, or donations in terms of the currency (in USD unless otherwise specified).

The revenues for a specified geography are consumption values that are revenues generated by organizations in the specified geography within the market, irrespective of where they are produced. It does not include revenues from resales along the supply chain, either further along the supply chain or as part of other products.

Adsorbents Market Global Report 2026 from The Business Research Company provides strategists, marketers and senior management with the critical information they need to assess the market.

This report focuses adsorbents market which is experiencing strong growth. The report gives a guide to the trends which will be shaping the market over the next ten years and beyond.

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Where is the largest and fastest growing market for adsorbents ? How does the market relate to the overall economy, demography and other similar markets? What forces will shape the market going forward, including technological disruption, regulatory shifts, and changing consumer preferences? The adsorbents market global report from the Business Research Company answers all these questions and many more.

The report covers market characteristics, size and growth, segmentation, regional and country breakdowns, total addressable market (TAM), market attractiveness score (MAS), competitive landscape, market shares, company scoring matrix, trends and strategies for this market. It traces the market's historic and forecast market growth by geography.

• The market characteristics section of the report defines and explains the market. This section also examines key products and services offered in the market, evaluates brand-level differentiation, compares product features, and highlights major innovation and product development trends.
• The supply chain analysis section provides an overview of the entire value chain, including key raw materials, resources, and supplier analysis. It also provides a list competitor at each level of the supply chain.
• The updated trends and strategies section analyses the shape of the market as it evolves and highlights emerging technology trends such as digital transformation, automation, sustainability initiatives, and AI-driven innovation. It suggests how companies can leverage these advancements to strengthen their market position and achieve competitive differentiation.
• The regulatory and investment landscape section provides an overview of the key regulatory frameworks, regularity bodies, associations, and government policies influencing the market. It also examines major investment flows, incentives, and funding trends shaping industry growth and innovation.
• The market size section gives the market size ($b) covering both the historic growth of the market, and forecasting its development.
• The forecasts are made after considering the major factors currently impacting the market. These include the technological advancements such as AI and automation, Russia-Ukraine war, trade tariffs (government-imposed import/export duties), elevated inflation and interest rates.
• The total addressable market (TAM) analysis section defines and estimates the market potential compares it with the current market size, and provides strategic insights and growth opportunities based on this evaluation.
• The market attractiveness scoring section evaluates the market based on a quantitative scoring framework that considers growth potential, competitive dynamics, strategic fit, and risk profile. It also provides interpretive insights and strategic implications for decision-makers.
• Market segmentations break down the market into sub markets.
• The regional and country breakdowns section gives an analysis of the market in each geography and the size of the market by geography and compares their historic and forecast growth.
• Expanded geographical coverage includes Taiwan and Southeast Asia, reflecting recent supply chain realignments and manufacturing shifts in the region. This section analyzes how these markets are becoming increasingly important hubs in the global value chain.
• The competitive landscape chapter gives a description of the competitive nature of the market, market shares, and a description of the leading companies. Key financial deals which have shaped the market in recent years are identified.
• The company scoring matrix section evaluates and ranks leading companies based on a multi-parameter framework that includes market share or revenues, product innovation, and brand recognition.

Scope

• Markets Covered:1) By Type: Molecular Sieves; Activated Carbon; Silica Gel; Clay; Other Types
• 2) By Application: Water Treatment; Air Separation; Packaging; Gas Refining; Other Applications
• 3) By End-User: Pharmaceutical; Commercial; Industrial; Petrochemical; Other End-Users
• Subsegments:
• 1) By Molecular Sieves: Type A; Type X; Type Y
• 2) By Activated Carbon: Granular Activated Carbon (GAC); Powdered Activated Carbon (PAC); Extruded Activated Carbon
• 3) By Silica Gel: Standard Silica Gel; Chromatography Silica Gel
• 4) By Clay: Natural Clay; Modified Clay
• 5) By Other Types: Alumina; Bio-Based Adsorbents
• Companies Mentioned: Arkema SA; Axens SA; BASF SE; Cabot Corporation; Clariant AG; Calgon Carbon Corporation; Graver Technologies LLC; Sorbead India; Adsorbents Carbons; Universal Carbons; Global Absorbents Pvt. Ltd.; Zeolyst International; Ashapura Minechem Ltd.; Zeotec Adsorbents Private Limited; Raj Carbon Pvt. Ltd.; Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation; PQ Corporation; Zeochem AG; Purolite Ltd.; Sunresin New Materials Co. Ltd.; Lanxess AG; W. R. Grace & Co.; Kuraray Co. Ltd.
• Countries: Australia; Brazil; China; France; Germany; India; Indonesia; Japan; Taiwan; Russia; South Korea; UK; USA; Canada; Italy; Spain
• Regions: Asia-Pacific; South East Asia; Western Europe; Eastern Europe; North America; South America; Middle East; Africa
• Time Series: Five years historic and ten years forecast.
• Data: Ratios of market size and growth to related markets, GDP proportions, expenditure per capita,
• Data Segmentations: country and regional historic and forecast data, market share of competitors, market segments.
• Sourcing and Referencing: Data and analysis throughout the report is sourced using end notes.
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