Specialty Carbon Black Global Market Report 2026

Specialty carbon black is a highly refined chemical produced by burning hydrocarbons in a controlled air supply. This refined form of carbon possesses the ability to absorb UV light and convert it into heat, enhancing the UV resistance of plastics. Specialty carbon black is employed as UV stabilizing agents, pigments, and conductive agents.

The primary forms of specialty carbon black are granules and powder. Granules are obtained by uniformly wetting the carbon blacks and are typically produced by pre-granulating the carbon black powder in the initial mixing granulator. Grades of specialty carbon black include conductive carbon black and food contact carbon black. Various process types, such as furnace black, gas black, lamp black, and thermal black, offer different functions like color enhancement, UV protection, conductivity, and other specialized functions. Specialty carbon black finds applications in plastics, battery electrodes, paints and coatings, inks and toners, rubber, and various other industrial applications.

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 on specialty carbon black imports have impacted the market by increasing raw material costs and causing supply chain disruptions, particularly affecting high-structure powders and conductive carbon black segments in regions like north america, europe, and asia-pacific. The plastics, battery, and coatings industries face increased production costs due to these tariffs. On the positive side, tariffs have encouraged domestic production, promoted local supply chain resilience, and driven innovation in producing customized carbon black grades to meet specific industry needs.

The specialty carbon black market research report is one of a series of new reports from The Business Research Company that provides specialty carbon black market statistics, including specialty carbon black industry global market size, regional shares, competitors with a specialty carbon black market share, detailed specialty carbon black market segments, market trends and opportunities, and any further data you may need to thrive in the specialty carbon black industry. This specialty carbon black 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 specialty carbon black market size has grown rapidly in recent years. It will grow from $3.7 billion in 2025 to $4.21 billion in 2026 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 13.8%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to rising demand for conductive carbon black, growth in plastics and rubber industries, increasing application in paints and coatings, technological advancements in furnace black production, expanding use in inks and toners.

The specialty carbon black market size is expected to see rapid growth in the next few years. It will grow to $6.98 billion in 2030 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 13.5%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to growing demand for uv-protective carbon black, increasing applications in battery electrodes, rising use in high-performance plastics, development of customized specialty grades, expansion in sustainable and eco-friendly carbon black solutions. Major trends in the forecast period include expansion of conductive carbon black applications, increasing use in uv protection for plastics, growth in high-performance inks and toners, rising demand in paints and coatings industry, customized carbon black grades for specialized industrial use.

The growth of the automotive industry is expected to drive the expansion of the specialty carbon black market. The automotive industry encompasses the production, sale, and maintenance of vehicles, including cars, trucks, motorcycles, and other modes of transportation. Specialty carbon black is utilized in the automotive sector for tire manufacturing, automotive rubber components, conductive plastics, coatings and pigments, and battery components. For example, in October 2023, the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, a U.S.-based government agency, reported that total vehicle production in the United States reached 11.06 million units in September, up from 10.77 million units in June. Consequently, the growth of the automotive industry is contributing to the expansion of the specialty carbon black market.

Leading companies in the specialty carbon black market are concentrating on product innovation to improve tire performance and sustainability. Product innovation in carbon black encompasses the creation of new and enhanced carbon black products, including innovative formulations, manufacturing techniques, or applications, designed to boost performance, sustainability, or competitive edge in the market. For example, in March 2024, Cabot Corporation, a US-based company specializing in performance materials and specialty chemicals, introduced the PROPELE8 engineered reinforcing carbon black. The PROPEL E8 grade is specifically designed to tackle the unique challenges presented by electric vehicles (EVs), which tend to be heavier and generate higher torque than traditional internal combustion engine vehicles, resulting in increased tire wear.

In September 2025, Tokai Carbon Company Limited, a Japan-based manufacturer of carbon products and specialty carbon black, along with its affiliate Thai Tokai Carbon Product Co., Ltd., acquired Bridgestone Carbon Black (Thailand) Co., Ltd. from Bridgestone Corporation and Asahi Carbon Co., Ltd. for approximately THB 2 billion (USD 62.8 million). Through this acquisition, Tokai Carbon aimed to strengthen its global specialty carbon black presence by expanding manufacturing capabilities in Southeast Asia and consolidating its supply chain for high-performance carbon black products. Bridgestone Carbon Black (Thailand) Co., Ltd. is a Thailand-based producer of carbon black used in rubber, plastics, and specialty applications across the Southeast Asian market.

Major companies operating in the specialty carbon black market report are Cabot Corporation, Birla Carbon, Tokai Carbon Co. Ltd., Continental Carbon Company, Omsk Carbon Group, Orion Engineered Carbons, Phillips Carbon Black Limited, Denka Company Limited, Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation, Sid Richardson Carbon and Energy Co., Imerys Graphite & Carbon, Asbury Carbons Inc., Black Bear Carbon B V, Nippon Pelletized Carbon Co. Ltd., OCI Company Ltd., Ampacet Corporation, Himadri Speciality Chemical Ltd., Pyrolex AG, Asahi Carbon Co. Ltd., Atlas Organics Private Limited, Lion Specialty Chemicals Co. Ltd., Hexing Chemical Industry, Ebory Chemical, Zaozhuang Xinyuan Chemical Industry, China Synthetic Rubber Corporation

Asia-Pacific was the largest region in the specialty carbon black market in 2025.Asia-Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the forecast period. The regions covered in the specialty carbon black market are Asia-Pacific, South East Asia, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, Africa.

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

The specialty carbon black market consists of sales of conveyor belts, plastics, and printing inks. 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.

Specialty Carbon Black 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 specialty carbon black 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 specialty carbon black ? 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 specialty carbon black 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 Form: Granules; Powder
• 2) By Grade: Conductive Carbon Black; Fiber Carbon Black; Food Contact Carbon Black
• 3) By Process Type: Furnace Black; Gas Black; Lamp Black; Thermal Black
• 4) By Function: Color; UV Protection; Conductive; Other Functions
• 5) By Application: Plastics; Battery Electrodes; Paints And Coatings; Inks And Toners; Rubber; Other Applications
• Subsegments:
• 1) By Granules: Agglomerated Granules; Pelletized Granules
• 2) By Powder: Low-Structure Powder; High-Structure Powder
• Companies Mentioned: Cabot Corporation; Birla Carbon; Tokai Carbon Co. Ltd.; Continental Carbon Company; Omsk Carbon Group; Orion Engineered Carbons; Phillips Carbon Black Limited; Denka Company Limited; Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation; Sid Richardson Carbon and Energy Co.; Imerys Graphite & Carbon; Asbury Carbons Inc.; Black Bear Carbon B V; Nippon Pelletized Carbon Co. Ltd.; OCI Company Ltd.; Ampacet Corporation; Himadri Speciality Chemical Ltd.; Pyrolex AG; Asahi Carbon Co. Ltd.; Atlas Organics Private Limited; Lion Specialty Chemicals Co. Ltd.; Hexing Chemical Industry; Ebory Chemical; Zaozhuang Xinyuan Chemical Industry; China Synthetic Rubber Corporation
• 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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