United Kingdom Carbon Black Market Size, Share, Analysis: By Products: Acetylene Black, Furnace Black, Thermal Black, Others; By Grade: Speciality Grade, Rubber Grade; By End Use: Industrial, Printing and Packaging, Building and Construction, Transportation, Others; Competitive Landscape; Industry Events and Developments; 2024-2032

United Kingdom Carbon Black Market Outlook

The United Kingdom carbon black market size reached a value of about USD 371.10 million in 2023. The market is further expected to grow at a CAGR of 7.4% between 2024 and 2032 to attain nearly USD 705.06 million by 2032.

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News and Developments in the Market

In July 2023, Wastefront announced a partnership with Newcastle University to boost innovation in recovered carbon black (rCB). Under the partnership, the university would undertake a study to develop innovative methods for reducing inorganic components in rCB while improving its material and chemical properties. Such partnerships are expected to increase innovations in rCB, which, in turn, is anticipated to significantly contribute to the United Kingdom carbon black market development.

In March 2023, Wastefront entered into a strategic partnership with Enso, an electric vehicle-tyre-focused brand based in the United Kingdom. Under the partnership, the latter would incorporate the former’s recovered carbon black into its tyre from FY 2024. Moreover, Wastefront would also provide a recycling outlet to Enso for its used tyre, as a part of its Extended Producer Responsibility. Such partnerships are also expected to bolster the United Kingdom carbon black market growth.

In March 2023, Orion Engineered Carbons started commercial sales from its first new reactor for carbon black production at its plant in Italy. The new 25-kilotonne line at its Italian facility manufactures technical and speciality grade rubber carbon blacks. Through this, the company aims to meet the growing demand for CB in the European market while offering a unique strategic opportunity to consumers seeking long-term solutions.

In November 2021, Michelin Group and Bridgestone Corporation offered a shared perspective to advance sustainability at Amsterdam’s Smithers Recovered Carbon Black Conference. The companies outlined a path to boost the utilisation of rCB in rubber products and new tyres. 

Moreover, they aimed to establish a collaboration between various carbon black manufacturers, tyre companies, emerging technology start-ups, and pyrolysis partners to bolster the supply of rCB. Such initiatives are bolstering the utilisation of rCB in the automotive sector, hence positively influencing the United Kingdom carbon black market demand.

In October 2021, Cabot Corporation (NYSE: CBT) launched a low polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) product, VULCAN® 3-LP carbon black for rubber applications. This was the fourth product in the Cabot LP carbon black series engineered for applications in end-use rubber products requiring high strength, reinforcement, tearing and abrasion resistance.

In February 2020, Birla Carbon unveiled its ‘Birla Carbon App’ (mobile app) at the Tire Technology Expo, which is one of Europe’s leading international tyre design and manufacturing conferences and exhibitions. The app was aimed to enable consumers to efficiently utilise CB for rubber and tyre applications amid the growing environmental concerns. 

Increasing Investments in rCB Manufacturing, Growing Popularity of Electric Vehicles, and Cost-Effectiveness of Carbon Black to Drive the Market

Carbon black (CB) refers to a material that typically contains fine carbon particles. In its pure form, it appears as a fine black powder. Different methods such as thermal black and furnace black are used to obtain CB. Moreover, it is used in various applications in the rubber, tyre, plastic, and paints and coatings sectors, among others.

• The increasing investments in chemistry expertise, production machinery, and laboratory equipment for manufacturing rCB are likely to aid the United Kingdom carbon black market growth. Moreover, leading companies are focusing on efficiently sourcing their raw materials to boost the production of high-quality rCB and expand their operations.

• The growing popularity of electric vehicles and the increasing deployment of lithium-ion batteries are bolstering the utilisation of CB to shorten charging times and boost the energy density of lithium-ion batteries.

• The cost-effectiveness offered by CB is leading to a surge in its utilisation in plastic applications. Hence, its demand is expected to increase in the manufacturing of anti-static packaging boxes, plastic film sheets, ABS pipes, and non-pressure pipes, among others.

Thriving Automotive Sector, Growing Use of Recovered Carbon Black, Diverse End-Use Applications of CB, and Technological Advancements and Innovations to Provide Lucrative Opportunities for the Market Growth 

Robust Growth of the Automotive Sector

CB is widely used in automotive rubber components and tyres. Moreover, CB is cost-effective due to which its utilisation as a reinforcing agent in tyre components like sidewalls, treads, and inner liners, among others, is significantly increasing. 

Rising Utilisation of rCB

There is an increasing utilisation of rCB owing to the growing trend of sustainability. In addition, environmental benefits associated with rCB are surging its demand in various end-use sectors.

Extensive End-Use Applications

As CB has unique characteristics, it is extensively used in various end-use sectors like plastics, automotive, electronics, packaging, and printing, among others. It is increasingly used to improve the electrical, physical, and optical properties of several materials. 

Technological Advancements and Innovations

Technological advancements and innovations to develop new grades of CB and enhance the manufacturing process are expected to aid the market.

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Health Risks of Carbon Black Exposure, Development of Carbon Black Alternatives, and Price Volatility of Raw Materials to Pose as Challenges in the Market 

Health Risks Associated with CB Exposure

Exposure to CB can surge the risk of cancer, bronchitis, and pulmonary diseases, among others. Its exposure can also irritate the lungs, nose, eyes, and throat. 

Development of Alternatives to CB

The growing development of sustainable alternatives to CB may pose a challenge to the United Kingdom carbon black market. For instance, Imerys offers various substitutes for carbon black such as Kaolin, talc, and Wollastonite, among others.

Price Volatility of Raw Materials

Primary raw materials used in CB manufacturing, including natural gas, petroleum products, and feedstock oils, among others, are subjected to constant price fluctuations, thereby impacting the production costs of CB.

United Kingdom Carbon Black Market Analysis

The market, based on product, can be segmented into furnace black, acetylene black, and thermal black, among others. By grade, it can be divided into speciality grade and rubber grade. Among these, the rubber grade segment can be further classified into N1XX-N3XX, N4XX-N7XX, and N8XX-N9XX, among others. By end uses, the market is categorised into transportation, industrial, building and construction, and printing and packaging, among others.

The comprehensive EMR report provides an in-depth market assessment of the market based on the Porter's five forces model along with giving a SWOT analysis.

The United Kingdom carbon black market report gives a detailed analysis of the following key players in the market, covering their competitive landscape and the latest developments, including mergers and acquisitions and capacity expansions.

• Waverly Carbon Ltd

• Cabot Corporation

• Tokai Carbon Co., Ltd

• PanaSystem Handels GmbH

• Others

Increased Demand for Rubber Grade Carbon Black Augmenting the Market Growth

The rubber grade segment holds the largest share of the market owing to the extensive use of CB as a performance and reinforcing additive in rubber products. The increasing use of the material to increase the tear strength, resilience, conductivity, and various physical properties of rubber products is favouring the overall market growth.

With the cost-effectiveness offered by rubber-grade CB, its utilisation as a reinforcing agent in tyre components like sidewalls, treads, and inner liners is significantly surging. The rising demand for reduced rolling resistance of tyres for passenger cars and treads is further driving the use of innovative rubber-grade CB as fillers in tyres.

The demand for speciality CB is growing on account of its properties such as pigmentation, UV protection, and others. Speciality CB is used to provide superior colour and surface smoothness to injections and blow moulded parts in several end-use sectors.

Some of the United Kingdom carbon black market trends include the growing utilisation of speciality carbon black in batteries, sealants, metallurgies, and adhesives, among various niche applications. Furthermore, leading companies are increasingly launching innovative and high-performance speciality-grade CB for non-food and food applications.

Acetylene Black, Furnace Black, and Thermal Black are the Major Products of Carbon Black in the Market

Acetylene black exhibits high electrical and thermal conductivity, which is bolstering its demand for lithium-ion batteries and electrical cables. As it has low metal content, along with excellent thermal, anti-static, and electrical properties, its demand in the aerospace and automotive sectors is growing.

The United Kingdom carbon black market is being fuelled by the development of high-performance acetylene black with enhanced UV resistance, further ensuring effective discharge and charge processes.

The use of the furnace black method to produce CB is rising due to its work safety and environmental benefits, cost-effectiveness, and flexibility. The method also enables the production of aggregates with controlled particle size; hence it is used to manufacture diverse grades of CB.

Meanwhile, the thermal black method is deployed to produce CB of the purest form. With the surging utilisation of low PAH thermal carbon in thermoplastic applications, the market is likely to grow over the forecast period.

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The Transportation Segment Accounts for the Largest United Kingdom Carbon Black Market Share

The transportation segment dominates the market owing to the growing popularity of electric vehicles, which is surging the use of CB in lithium-ion batteries. As CB can improve the tread wear of truck tyres and boost their durability, it is also used to significantly lower costs in trucking applications.

The growing use of CB in pigmentation, resin, and resin applications in the industrial sector is augmenting the market growth. Meanwhile, the printing and packaging segment of the market is being fuelled by the increasing utilisation of high-performance CB in flexographic, lithographic, letterpress, screen printing, and gravure applications, among others.

Carbon black is used in decorative building bricks, blind track bricks, and jointing applications in the building and construction sector. The United Kingdom carbon black market is further being invigorated by the increasing demand for CB with excellent pigmentation, durability, and dispersion performance for colouring and filling applications in the building and construction sector.

Competitive Landscape 

Waverly Carbon Ltd is primarily engaged in the production of rCB. The company offers low-cost bulk processing ingredients, for plastics, coatings and rubber, offering producers pain-free carbon footprint reduction. The company is the UK’s only producer of rCB with a 21,00 square feet plant in Leicestershire, with an annual production capacity of 4,000 tons. It also offers an outlet to pyrolysis companies for their tyre char.

Cabot Corporation is a chemical and performance materials company that provides products for various sectors, including infrastructure, transportation, environment, and consumer, among others. With about 4,100 employees and 35 manufacturing facilities across the globe, the company aims to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.

Tokai Carbon Co., Ltd is a leading global supplier and manufacturer of high-quality carbon and graphite products, based in Japan. Its products are utilised in several end-use sectors, including aluminium, metallurgy, electronics, machinery, and automotive, among others. Moreover, the company extensively invests in R&D activities to advance its existing product line-up.

PanaSystem Handels GmbH is a supplier of high-quality Russian CB from the Yaroslavskiy Tekhnicheskiy Uglerod plant to 26 countries across North America and Europe. With 16 warehouses, the company can efficiently store up to 27,000 million tonnes of CB for rapid delivery. In 2020, it delivered 120,000 million tonnes of CB to its clients.

Key Highlights of the Report

*At Expert Market Research, we strive to always give you current and accurate information. The numbers depicted in the description are indicative and may differ from the actual numbers in the final EMR report.