What this market covers
Porous materials such as activated carbon, zeolites and silica that hold gases, liquids or impurities on their surface. They are used for water treatment, gas drying, air cleaning and chemical purification.
Typical segments
- Activated carbon
- Zeolites and molecular sieves
- Silica gel
- Activated alumina
- Clay adsorbents
Source: Eurostat
Why this market is moving now
- Extra-EU import value moved +32% from 2020 to 2025, a direct read on EU demand for sourced supply.
- Supply is concentrated: one country provided a large share of extra-EU imports in 2025.
- US employment in the core industry shifted +11% since 2020.
Key figures
Each figure names the source it came from. Open the source list below to read the quoted line.
| Figure | Value | Year | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| The EU imported €415.6 million of products under CN code 38021000 (Activated carbon) from outside the EU in 2025. | 415.6 EUR million | 2025 | Eurostat |
| Extra-EU imports of CN 38021000 were up 32% in 2025 compared with 2020 (€316.0 million), calculated from Eurostat values. | +32 % change | 2025 | Eurostat |
| EU exports of CN 38021000 to countries outside the EU were worth €155.2 million in 2025. | 155.2 EUR million | 2025 | Eurostat |
| Trade between EU member states in CN 38021000 (intra-EU arrivals) came to €372.1 million in 2025. | 372.1 EUR million | 2025 | Eurostat |
| China was the largest non-EU supplier of CN 38021000 to the EU in 2025, with €150.4 million, or 36% of extra-EU imports. | 150.4 EUR million | 2025 | Eurostat |
| EU exports of CN 38021000 to the United States were €23.9 million in 2025. | 23.9 EUR million | 2025 | Eurostat |
| The average value of extra-EU imports of CN 38021000 was €2.00 per kilogram in 2025, calculated from Eurostat value and weight. | 2.00 EUR per kg | 2025 | Eurostat |
| Netherlands was the largest EU exporter of CN 38021000 to non-EU countries in 2025, at €53.0 million. | 53.0 EUR million | 2025 | Eurostat |
| The EU had 4,162 enterprises in NACE class C2059 (Manufacture of other chemical products n.e.c.) in 2023. | 4,162 enterprises | 2023 | Eurostat |
| EU enterprises in NACE class C2059 had net turnover of €74.00 billion in 2023. | 74.00 EUR billion | 2023 | Eurostat |
| NACE class C2059 employed 151,000 people across the EU in 2023. | 151,000 persons employed | 2023 | Eurostat |
| The US had 2,332 private establishments in NAICS 325998 (All other miscellaneous chemical product and preparation manufacturing) in 2025. | 2,332 establishments | 2025 | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics |
| NAICS 325998 employed an average of 43,439 people in US private industry in 2025. | 43,439 jobs | 2025 | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics |
| US employment in NAICS 325998 changed by +11% between 2020 (39,148 jobs) and 2025, calculated from BLS figures. | +11 % change | 2025 | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics |
| Average annual pay in US NAICS 325998 was $101,547 in 2025. | 101,547 USD per year | 2025 | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics |
| PubMed indexed 136 papers mentioning "adsorbent materials" in the title or abstract in 2025. | 136 papers | 2025 | U.S. National Library of Medicine |
Sources and method
The figures on this page come from the public sources listed below. Read how we work.
- Eurostat: EU trade since 1988 by HS2-4-6 and CN8 (DS-045409) (2026-11-04)
Quoted lines
- Figure 1
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 38021000, partner EXT_EU27_2020, flow import, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 415644912
- Figure 2
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 38021000, flow import, 2020 VALUE_IN_EUROS 315997747; 2025 VALUE_IN_EUROS 415644912
- Figure 3
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 38021000, partner EXT_EU27_2020, flow export, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 155238059
- Figure 4
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 38021000, partner INT_EU27_2020, flow import, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 372098852
- Figure 5
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 38021000, partner CN, flow import, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 150448748
- Figure 6
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 38021000, partner US, flow export, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 23917171
- Figure 7
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 38021000, flow import, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 415644912, QUANTITY_IN_100KG 2074279
- Figure 1
- Eurostat: EU trade since 1988 by HS2-4-6 and CN8 (DS-045409) (2026-11-04)
Quoted lines
- Figure 8
DS-045409, reporter NL, product 38021000, partner EXT_EU27_2020, flow export, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 52992732
- Figure 8
- Eurostat: Enterprises by detailed NACE Rev. 2 activity and special aggregates (sbs_ovw_act) (2026-11-04)
Quoted lines
- Figure 9
sbs_ovw_act, geo EU27_2020, nace_r2 C2059, indic_sbs ENT_NR, 2023, 4162
- Figure 10
sbs_ovw_act, geo EU27_2020, nace_r2 C2059, indic_sbs NETTUR_MEUR, 2023, 74000
- Figure 11
sbs_ovw_act, geo EU27_2020, nace_r2 C2059, indic_sbs EMP_NR, 2023, 151000
- Figure 9
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: QCEW annual averages, NAICS 325998, 2025 (2026-11-04)
Quoted lines
- Figure 12
QCEW 2025 annual, US000, private, NAICS 325998, annual_avg_estabs 2332
- Figure 13
QCEW 2025 annual, US000, private, NAICS 325998, annual_avg_emplvl 43439
- Figure 14
QCEW 2020 annual_avg_emplvl 39148; 2025 annual_avg_emplvl 43439
- Figure 15
QCEW 2025 annual, US000, private, NAICS 325998, avg_annual_pay 101547
- Figure 12
- U.S. National Library of Medicine: PubMed search "adsorbent materials"[tiab] AND 2025[dp] (2026-11-04)
Quoted lines
- Figure 16
esearch count 136
- Figure 16
Buyers and suppliers
Who buys
- Water utilities
- Chemical and refining plants
- Air and gas purification makers
Large non-EU suppliers to the EU
What the full report covers
- 01Executive summary
The answer in one page: size, direction and what moves it - 02Market definition and scope
What is in and out of the European Union market - 03Market size, 2021 to 2025
Historical series and growth rates - 04Outlook to 2031
Base, low and high scenarios with stated assumptions - 05Rules, policy and deadlines
Regulation and programmes that change demand - 06Drivers and barriers
What accelerates or slows adoption, by customer segment - 07Prices, costs and margins
Unit economics where public data allows - 08Competitive landscape
8 to 12 company profiles with recent moves - 09Opportunities and risks
For new entrants, suppliers and investors - 10Method and sources
Every assumption and source, listed
Included with the full report
- PDF report, 40 to 60 pages
- Excel data pack
- Ready-to-use charts
- Method note and assumptions
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Frequently asked questions
How big is the EU adsorbent market?
There is no single official market total. Eurostat trade data shows the EU imported €415.6 million of goods under CN 38021000 from outside the EU in 2025 and exported €155.2 million.
Where does the EU import adsorbent from?
China was the largest non-EU supplier in 2025. Other large suppliers included United States, Philippines, United Kingdom.
What is the average import price of adsorbent in the EU?
Dividing Eurostat import value by weight gives about €2.00 per kilogram for CN 38021000 in 2025.
Which EU countries export the most adsorbent?
Netherlands led EU exports to non-EU countries in 2025, followed by Germany, Belgium.
How many US companies are in the adsorbent industry?
BLS counts 2,332 private establishments in NAICS 325998 (All other miscellaneous chemical product and preparation manufacturing), the closest official industry.
How many EU companies are in the adsorbent industry?
Eurostat counts 4,162 enterprises in NACE class C2059 (Manufacture of other chemical products n.e.c.).
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