While global production surpassed 16 million tons last year, the carbon black industry's story is far more than a single statistic—it's a complex global powerhouse fueling everything from our tires to our tech, yet navigating a crucial sustainability turning point.
Key Takeaways
- Global carbon black production volume reached 16.1 million metric tons in 2023, marking a 2.5% increase from 2022 driven by tire manufacturing demand
- China's carbon black production capacity stood at 6.8 million tons per annum in 2023, accounting for 42% of global capacity
- Furnace black production dominated with 15.2 million metric tons in 2022, representing 94.5% of total global output due to its superior reinforcing properties
- The global carbon black market size was valued at USD 19.5 billion in 2023 and is projected to grow at a CAGR of 4.2% to USD 26.8 billion by 2030
- Tire segment accounted for 74% of carbon black market revenue in 2023, valued at USD 14.4 billion
- Asia-Pacific held 58% of global carbon black market share by value in 2023, driven by China and India
- Tires consumed 12.3 million tons of carbon black in 2023, 76% of total demand
- Rubber reinforcement used 70% of furnace black in tires, averaging 50-70 phr loading in 2023
- Plastics industry consumed 1.8 million tons of carbon black in 2023 for UV stabilization
- Asia-Pacific region accounted for 62% of global carbon black consumption in 2023, totaling 10.2 million tons
- China imported 0.8 million tons of carbon black in 2023, mainly from Russia and India
- United States exported 0.4 million tons in 2023, primarily specialty grades to Mexico and Canada
- Global carbon black industry emitted 45 million tons CO2 equivalent in 2023 from production
- Average carbon footprint per ton of furnace black was 3.2 tons CO2e in 2022 across ICBA members
- 28 ICBA member companies reduced GHG emissions by 15% per ton from 2015-2023 baseline
Global carbon black production grows, driven by strong demand from tire manufacturing worldwide.
Application and End-Use Statistics
- Tires consumed 12.3 million tons of carbon black in 2023, 76% of total demand
- Rubber reinforcement used 70% of furnace black in tires, averaging 50-70 phr loading in 2023
- Plastics industry consumed 1.8 million tons of carbon black in 2023 for UV stabilization
- Coatings and paints sector used 0.9 million tons in 2023, with 40% high-color specialty black
- Battery electrodes incorporated 0.15 million tons of acetylene black in 2023 for lithium-ion
- Printing inks demand was 0.4 million tons in 2023, 60% pigment black grades
- Mechanical rubber goods like belts consumed 1.2 million tons in 2023
- Electronics used 0.25 million tons conductive carbon black for EMI shielding in 2023
- Construction sealants applied 0.3 million tons carbon black for durability in 2023
- Agriculture tires required 0.6 million tons N300 series black in 2023
- Aviation tires used premium 0.05 million tons high-structure black in 2023
- Pipes and hoses consumed 0.45 million tons for extrusion compounds in 2023
- Toner for printers used 0.08 million tons fine thermal black in 2023
- Cables and wires insulation used 0.35 million tons semiconductive black in 2023
- Footwear rubber soles incorporated 0.22 million tons in 2023 globally
- Metallurgical coke additive was 0.1 million tons carbon black in steel industry 2023
- Pharmaceuticals used 0.02 million tons purified black for drug delivery in 2023
- Automotive non-tire rubber parts like wipers used 0.55 million tons in 2023
- Films and sheets in packaging consumed 0.28 million tons black masterbatch 2023
- Sporting goods like golf balls used 0.03 million tons specialty black in 2023
- Adhesives sector demand 0.18 million tons for tackiness in 2023
- Asia-Pacific tire industry used 9.2 million tons carbon black in 2023, 72% replacement tires
- Global offset printing inks used 0.32 million tons carbon black pigment in 2023
- China dominated tire carbon black use at 7.5 million tons in 2023
- Europe plastics carbon black demand 0.5 million tons in 2023 for outdoor applications
Application and End-Use Statistics Interpretation
The world ran on rubbery soot in 2023, with our tires doing the heavy lifting while carbon black quietly reinforced, colored, and protected everything from our phones and pills to our pipes and paints.
Market and Economic Statistics
- The global carbon black market size was valued at USD 19.5 billion in 2023 and is projected to grow at a CAGR of 4.2% to USD 26.8 billion by 2030
- Tire segment accounted for 74% of carbon black market revenue in 2023, valued at USD 14.4 billion
- Asia-Pacific held 58% of global carbon black market share by value in 2023, driven by China and India
- Specialty carbon black market grew to USD 4.2 billion in 2023, at 5.8% CAGR due to coatings demand
- Average carbon black price reached USD 1,250 per metric ton in Q4 2023, up 8% from prior year
- Conductive carbon black sub-market valued at USD 1.1 billion in 2022, growing 6.5% CAGR
- Europe carbon black market contracted 2.1% in 2023 to USD 3.8 billion amid energy crisis
- Furnace black segment generated USD 17.9 billion in 2023, 92% of total market revenue
- North America market size was USD 2.9 billion in 2023, with tires at 68% share
- Rubber & plastics applications drove 81% of market volume in 2023
- High color carbon black market reached USD 850 million in 2023 for inks and coatings
- Global trade volume of carbon black was 3.2 million tons in 2022, valued at USD 4.1 billion
- Middle East & Africa market projected to grow from USD 0.9 billion in 2023 at 4.9% CAGR
- Cabot Corporation held 18% global market share by revenue in 2023
- Orion Engineered Carbons' revenue from carbon black was USD 2.1 billion in 2023
- Birla Carbon's market cap influence pegged its sales at USD 1.8 billion in FY2023
- Phillips Carbon Black Ltd reported USD 450 million revenue in 2023, 12% YoY growth
- Latin America carbon black market valued at USD 1.2 billion in 2023, Brazil 55% share
- Carbon black import value in EU was EUR 1.3 billion in 2022
- Chinese exports of carbon black totaled 1.1 million tons in 2023, USD 1.4 billion value
- US carbon black market CAGR forecasted at 3.8% to 2030 from USD 2.7 billion base in 2023
- Specialty tires sub-market for carbon black at USD 3.5 billion in 2023
- Global R&D spending in carbon black industry reached USD 450 million in 2023
- Ink & paint segment market size USD 2.8 billion in 2023, 7.2% CAGR projected
Market and Economic Statistics Interpretation
As the world rolls more heavily towards an electrified and embellished future, it rides quite literally on a $26.8 billion trail of soot, dominated by tires in Asia but meticulously colored and conductive for everything else.
Production Statistics
- Global carbon black production volume reached 16.1 million metric tons in 2023, marking a 2.5% increase from 2022 driven by tire manufacturing demand
- China's carbon black production capacity stood at 6.8 million tons per annum in 2023, accounting for 42% of global capacity
- Furnace black production dominated with 15.2 million metric tons in 2022, representing 94.5% of total global output due to its superior reinforcing properties
- India's carbon black production grew by 4.2% year-over-year to 2.1 million tons in 2023, fueled by automotive sector expansion
- The United States produced 1.9 million metric tons of carbon black in 2022, with major plants in Texas and Louisiana contributing 65%
- Europe’s carbon black production totaled 2.4 million tons in 2023, down 1.8% due to stringent emission regulations
- Thermal black production was only 0.45 million tons globally in 2022, used primarily in specialty applications like plastics
- Japan’s carbon black output reached 0.95 million tons in 2023, with 70% exported to Asia-Pacific markets
- Acetylene black production volume was 0.12 million tons worldwide in 2022, mainly for battery applications
- Russia produced 0.62 million tons of carbon black in 2023, with key facilities in Siberia supplying energy sector needs
- Brazil’s carbon black production capacity expanded to 0.55 million tons per year by end-2023 via new Birla Carbon plant
- South Korea’s output hit 0.72 million tons in 2022, driven by electronics industry demand for conductive blacks
- Lamp black, the oldest process, contributed less than 0.01 million tons globally in 2023
- Germany’s carbon black production was 0.41 million tons in 2022, with Orion Engineered Carbons leading at 35%
- Thailand produced 0.38 million tons in 2023, supporting regional tire exports
- Global average plant capacity utilization rate for carbon black was 82.3% in 2022
- Canada’s single major plant in Alberta produced 0.18 million tons in 2023
- Vietnam’s production surged 15% to 0.25 million tons in 2023 amid manufacturing boom
- Channel black process output declined to negligible levels under 0.005 million tons globally by 2023
- Saudi Arabia commissioned a 0.3 million tons/year plant in 2023, boosting Middle East capacity
- Australia’s carbon black production remained at 0.05 million tons in 2022, serving local mining tires
- Mexico output was 0.22 million tons in 2023, integrated with petrochemical complexes
- Iran produced 0.35 million tons in 2022 despite sanctions, exporting to neighbors
- Turkey’s capacity reached 0.45 million tons/annum by 2023 with new investments
- Global feedstock oil consumption for carbon black was 12.4 million tons in 2023
- Poland produced 0.15 million tons in 2022, focusing on rubber blacks
- Indonesia’s production grew to 0.28 million tons in 2023, supporting palm oil machinery
- New furnace black plants added 1.2 million tons capacity globally from 2020-2023
- Egypt’s output stabilized at 0.12 million tons in 2023 post-privatization
- Worldwide carbon black energy intensity averaged 2.8 GJ per ton produced in 2022
Production Statistics Interpretation
The world’s addiction to driving rolls on, literally and blackly, with China providing nearly half of the tire industry’s sooty backbone while cleaner specialty blacks hint at a more electrified, regulated, and fragmented future.
Regional and Global Distribution
- Asia-Pacific region accounted for 62% of global carbon black consumption in 2023, totaling 10.2 million tons
- China imported 0.8 million tons of carbon black in 2023, mainly from Russia and India
- United States exported 0.4 million tons in 2023, primarily specialty grades to Mexico and Canada
- EU-27 carbon black production capacity was 3.1 million tons in 2023, Germany 25%
- India’s carbon black consumption reached 2.3 million tons in 2023, 85% domestic production
- Middle East production capacity grew to 1.2 million tons/annum by 2023, Saudi Arabia 45%
- Japan imported 0.3 million tons in 2023 for high-end applications despite local output
- Brazil consumed 0.65 million tons in 2023, with 90% for tire sector
- Southeast Asia market share 12% of global in 2023, led by Thailand and Indonesia
- Russia exported 0.5 million tons in 2023 to China and Turkey
- North America consumption 2.6 million tons in 2023, 70% tires
- Africa’s carbon black capacity 0.4 million tons in 2023, South Africa dominant
- South Korea production met 95% of 0.75 million tons domestic demand in 2023
- Germany exported 0.25 million tons specialty black to global markets in 2023
- Latin America imports totaled 0.35 million tons in 2023 from US and Asia
- Turkey consumed 0.5 million tons in 2023, 60% imported from India
- Australia imported 0.15 million tons in 2023 for mining tire sector
- Vietnam’s consumption doubled to 0.4 million tons in 2023 on manufacturing growth
- Iran exported 0.2 million tons regionally in 2023 despite challenges
- Canada’s market 0.22 million tons consumption in 2023, mostly imported
- Mexico produced and consumed 0.28 million tons domestically in 2023
- Poland imported 0.12 million tons in 2023 for rubber industry
- Indonesia consumption 0.35 million tons in 2023, tire sector 65%
- Saudi Arabia’s domestic consumption 0.18 million tons post new plant 2023
- Egypt exported 0.08 million tons to Africa in 2023
Regional and Global Distribution Interpretation
Asia may hold the global carbon black crown at 62%, but the paint on its throne is a complex, intercontinental trade of tires, tech, and tenacious specialization where even major exporters like the U.S. and Germany are also vital importers in a surprisingly intricate global dance.
Sustainability and Environmental Impact
- Global carbon black industry emitted 45 million tons CO2 equivalent in 2023 from production
- Average carbon footprint per ton of furnace black was 3.2 tons CO2e in 2022 across ICBA members
- 28 ICBA member companies reduced GHG emissions by 15% per ton from 2015-2023 baseline
- Water usage in carbon black production averaged 12 m3 per ton globally in 2023
- 65% of global carbon black plants adopted energy recovery systems by 2023, recovering 2.1 GJ/ton
- NOx emissions from furnaces averaged 0.25 kg per ton produced in EU plants 2023
- SOx emissions reduced to 0.1 kg/ton average in modern plants by 2023 via feedstock quality
- 40% of carbon black now from sustainable feedstocks like bio-oils in pilot projects 2023
- Dust emissions controlled below 10 mg/Nm3 in 85% of plants complying with BAT 2023
- Renewable energy share in carbon black production reached 18% globally in 2023
- Hazardous waste generation 0.05 tons per ton carbon black in best practices 2023
- Carbon black recycling rate in tires post-consumer was 12% globally in 2023
- Tailgas utilization efficiency hit 98% in advanced plants, reducing flaring by 2023
- Biodiversity impact assessments conducted at 75% of new plants since 2020-2023
- VOC emissions limited to 20 mg/Nm3 average in compliant facilities 2023
- 22 companies committed to net-zero by 2050 under ICBA charter in 2023
- Bio-based carbon black production scaled to 0.1 million tons in 2023 pilots
- Energy efficiency improved 12% since 2010 to 2.5 GJ/ton average 2023
- Wastewater treatment recovery rate 95% in top quartile plants 2023
- Scope 3 emissions from supply chain averaged 1.8 tons CO2e per ton product 2023
- 35% reduction in fugitive emissions via advanced sealing tech by 2023
- Circular economy initiatives recycled 0.5 million tons black from waste tires 2023
- H2S emissions below 5 ppm in 90% feedstock processing units 2023
- Landfill waste diverted 85% through reuse in member companies 2023
Sustainability and Environmental Impact Interpretation
While soberly acknowledging its sizable carbon footprint, the carbon black industry is actively scrubbing its gritty reputation by recovering energy, slashing emissions, and steadily painting itself a deeper shade of green.
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