January Activated Carbon Prices Fluctuate and Rise in China

January 30th News

According to the commodity market analysis system: At the beginning of the month, the price of activated carbon in China was 12,766 CNY/ton, and at the end of the month, it was 12,883 CNY/ton, with a price increase of 0.91%.

Chinese activated carbon manufacturers' quotes remained firm this month. The factory price for coconut shell water purification activated carbon (iodine value 1000) ranged between 11,000 and 13,500 CNY per ton. The mainstream tax-inclusive factory price for an iodine value of 800 was approximately 9,500 CNY per ton, while the price for an iodine value of 900 was quoted at 9,800 to 10,200 CNY per ton. In December 2025, China's import volume of nutshell carbon (mainly coconut shell carbon, etc.) reached 17,983.77 tons, a 21% increase from the previous month and a significant 52% increase year-over-year, reflecting the sustained strong demand from downstream sectors.

From January 1, 2026, the global maritime shipping policy for coconut shell char has undergone a fundamental change: coconut shell char must be declared and transported as a hazardous material. This is mainly due to the influence of the 42-24th edition amendment of the International Maritime Organization's (IMO) IMDG Code. The new regulations eliminate exemptions and strictly control packaging, temperature, transportation, document declaration, and storage. Chinese coconut shell activated carbon companies are about to face increased costs and compliance challenges.

Forecast: The demand for coconut shell activated carbon in China is expected to recover, and it is projected that the price of activated carbon may mainly follow a strong fluctuating trend in the short term.