Recovered Carbon Black Market Size and Share
Recovered Carbon Black Market Analysis by Mordor Intelligence
The recovered carbon black market currently stands at 136.44 kilotons in 2025 and is forecast to reach 341.96 kilotons by 2030, reflecting a vigorous 20.18% CAGR over 2025-2030. Robust policy pressure to cut CO₂ emissions, steady improvements in pyrolysis yields, and binding sustainable-material targets from leading tire OEMs are together steering this triple-digit volume expansion. Europe’s mature recycling ecosystem anchors demand, while North America and Asia-Pacific add momentum through rising public-private investments in tire-to-tire loops. The competitive field features specialist rCB suppliers scaling modular plants and incumbent carbon black majors securing feedstock via acquisitions. Although favorable cost economics and abundant scrap-tire supply support growth, near-term volume realization hinges on faster deployment of quality-assured pyrolysis capacity and harmonized testing standards.
Key Report Takeaways
- By grade, rubber grade maintained 70% of the recovered carbon black market share in 2024, while specialty/conductive grade is projected to post the fastest 22.50% CAGR through 2030.
- By production technology, pyrolysis commanded 90% revenue share in 2024; it is set to expand at a 22% CAGR during 2025-2030.
- By application, tires led with 71% of the recovered carbon black market size in 2024, and the segment is expected to advance at a 20.83% CAGR to 2030.
- By end-user industry, automotive held 72% share of the recovered carbon black market in 2024, whereas industrial applications are slated for the highest 21.14% CAGR over the forecast period.
- By geography, Europe accounted for 51% of global volume in 2024; North America is forecast to deliver a 21.21% CAGR through 2030.
Global Recovered Carbon Black Market Trends and Insights
Drivers Impact Analysis
Driver | (~) % Impact on CAGR Forecast | Geographic Relevance | Impact Timeline |
---|---|---|---|
Environmental Sustainability and Circular Economy Initiatives | +5.20% | Global; strongest pull in Europe | Medium term (2-4 years) |
OEM Targets for greater than or equal to 40 % Sustainable Materials in Tires by 2030 | +4.80% | Europe & North America lead, global follow-on | Long term (≥4 years) |
Cost-Effectiveness and Raw Material Availability | +3.50% | High in markets with strict landfill levies | Short term (≤2 years) |
Collaborations between rCB producers and major tire manufacturers are accelerating the adoption of recycled carbon black | +3.20% | First movers in Europe and North America | Medium term (2-4 years) |
Emerging Economies Fueling rCB Demand Through Industrialization and Vehicle Growth | +2.80% | Asia-Pacific, particularly India and China | Long term (≥4 years) |
Source: Mordor Intelligence
Environmental Sustainability and Circular Economy Initiatives
Global decarbonization policies are turning scrap-tire liabilities into strategic raw materials. rCB generated via pyrolysis emits about 80% less CO₂ than furnace-grade virgin carbon black, a differential magnified as carbon-pricing schemes tighten. Europe’s Circular Economy Action Plan and equivalent frameworks elsewhere translate this footprint gap into procurement mandates, encouraging tire, plastics, and building-materials makers to pivot to circular inputs. OEM endorsements accelerate adoption; Michelin’s 2030 target for 40% renewable and recycled material positions the recovered carbon black market as an indispensable supply chain node. Investors view the emissions delta as a durable margin hedge, prompting capital to flow into modular pyrolysis plants proximal to major tire-scrap hubs.
OEM Targets for greater than or equal to 40% Sustainable Materials in Tires by 2030
Tire brands have issued concrete sourcing pledges that create predictable demand baselines. Michelin, Continental, and Bridgestone plan to integrate escalating rCB tonnages into standard product lines, de-risking expansion projects for recyclers. Continuous feedback loops between OEM labs and rCB producers are narrowing property gaps versus virgin grades, enabling higher substitution ratios in tread and carcass compounds. As OEMs link executive compensation to milestone fulfillment, adherence to these targets becomes non-negotiable, embedding double-digit annual offtake growth into long-term supply contracts.
Cost-Effectiveness and Raw Material Availability
Recovered material typically sells at a 15-20% discount to virgin carbon black, an edge strengthened whenever oil prices or carbon taxes rise. With 1.5 billion worn tires generated each year, the feedstock pool is plentiful, geographically dispersed, and increasingly regulated against landfilling. Regions that impose high tipping fees or Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) schemes widen the delivered-cost gap in favor of rCB. Higher capacity utilization at integrated scrap-tire processing hubs continues to compress unit costs, further cementing price competitiveness.
Strategic Collaborations between rCB Producers and Major Tire Manufacturers
Joint ventures such as Bridgestone-BB&G-Versalis and long-term purchase agreements like Continental-Pyrum demonstrate how aligned R&D agendas can overcome batch-to-batch variability challenges. These alliances often bundle offtake guarantees with technology-transfer provisions, shortening the scale-up cycle for new pyrolysis modules. The ASTM D36 committee supplies common testing protocols, thereby lowering technical risk and easing financing hurdles for new entrants[1]ASTM International, “Committee D36 on Recovered Carbon Black,” astm.org .
Restraints Impact Analysis
Restraint | (~) % Impact on CAGR Forecast | Geographic Relevance | Impact Timeline |
---|---|---|---|
Lack of Infrastructure and Technologies for Recovered Carbon Black | -4.50% | Acute in emerging markets lacking pyrolysis assets | Short term (≤2 years) |
Fragmented Pyrolysis Supply Leading to Feedstock Variability | -3.20% | Most severe outside organized collection systems | Medium term (2-4 years) |
Providing Consistent Quality of Recovered Carbon Black | -4.80% | Global | Short term (≤2 years) |
Source: Mordor Intelligence
Lack of Infrastructure and Technologies for Recovered Carbon Black
Commercial-scale continuous pyrolysis units remain sparse versus the volume of discarded tires generated each year. Financing hurdles arise from long lead-times, process risk, and the capital intensity of ancillary grinding and pelletizing lines. Bridgestone’s pilot plant in Seki City will only enter operation in 2027, a timeline illustrating the gap between lab proof-of-concept and industrial throughput. Until a critical mass of 50-100 kiloton-per-year regional hubs is achieved, offtakers may experience supply unevenness that curtails rapid substitution plans.
Fragmented Pyrolysis Supply Leading to Feedstock Variability
Diverse rubber formulations, metal residue, and moisture content in end-of-life tires introduce variability that cascades into rCB surface-area and ash-content fluctuations. The current patchwork of small pyrolyzers operating under heterogeneous process conditions accentuates inconsistency. Although advancements in tire-scrap sorting and post-treatment (milling, activation, magnetic separation) are mitigating spread, uniformity still trails virgin grades. Standardized classification schemes under ASTM D36 are critical for raising buyer confidence and unlocking larger contract volumes.
Segment Analysis
By Grade: Specialty Grade Drives Premium Applications
Specialty and conductive grades accounted for the minority of the recovered carbon black market in 2024, yet they are slated to grow fastest at 22.5% CAGR to 2030. Battery anodes, conductive plastics, and high-performance coatings underpin this surge as rigorous post-treatment narrows surface chemistry deviations. The recovered carbon black market size for specialty grade is projected to accelerate on the back of electronics miniaturization and the scaling of energy-storage gigafactories.
Rubber grade remains essential for tire tread and mechanical goods thanks to well-established compounding recipes that absorb quality variation. Suppliers continue to refine activation steps that raise DBP oil absorption and tint strength, gradually positioning premium rCB as a drop-in replacement for select N-series virgin grades. Cabot’s VULCAN XC conductive series exemplifies how incremental property gains translate into data-center cabling and lithium-ion cell applications.
Note: Segment shares of all individual segments available upon report purchase
By Production Technology: Pyrolysis Dominates Recovery Methods
Pyrolysis technology processed 90% of rCB tonnage in 2024 and will likely retain leadership with a 22% CAGR through 2030. Its ability to convert whole tires into solid, liquid, and gaseous co-products offers diversified revenue streams that bolster project bankability. The recovered carbon black market benefits when pyrolysis oil secures offtake into marine fuel or chemical recycling, improving overall plant economics.
Gasification and other production technology routes collectively hold 10% share but attract R&D due to potential lower CO₂ footprints and hydrogen co-production opportunities. The BioTfueL consortium’s entrained-flow gasification trials illustrate how syngas valorization may complement future rCB output[2]Thyssenkrupp Uhde, “Advanced Biofuels,” thyssenkrupp-uhde.com . Commercial traction of these alternatives hinges on downstream infrastructure for syngas cleaning and synthetic-fuel upgrading.
By Application: Tires Lead Consumption While New Markets Emerge
Tires consumed 71% of global rCB volumes in 2024, and this anchor segment is projected to expand at 20.83% CAGR to 2030. Closed-loop logic, regulatory pressure to recycle, and clear compound-performance datasets sustain this dominance. Moreover, “tire-inside-tire” product stories resonate with brand marketing around circularity.
Outside tires, plastics and batteries register the sharpest growth curve. Compounders introduce rCB into polyolefin and styrenic resins to impart anti-static properties and UV shielding, widening demand. The recovered carbon black market also captures battery-grade opportunities as conductive additives in cathode slurries; Cabot’s DOE-supported Michigan line signals industrial validation of this pathway. Incremental uptake in non-tire rubber goods, inks, and coatings adds further breadth.
By End-User Industry: Automotive Leads While Industrial Applications Accelerate
Automotive applications—tires, hoses, seals, interior plastics—absorbed 72% of rCB in 2024, a position bolstered by OEM decarbonization roadmaps. The recovered carbon black market size allocated to automotive is on a steep ascent as EV platforms amplify demand for lightweight conductive plastics.
Industrial rubber, conveyor belts, and construction-sector modifiers represent the fastest-growing end-use bucket at 21.14% CAGR over 2025-2030. Asphalt modified with rCB enhances fatigue resistance, aligning with public-works sustainability targets. Avient’s recycled TPE compounds demonstrate how rCB can enter interior trim and under-the-hood components without sacrificing tactile quality. Emerging interest from packaging and electronics manufacturers signals a progressively diversified demand stack.

Note: Segment shares of all individual segments available upon report purchase
Geography Analysis
Europe’s advanced regulatory framework granted the region 51% of global volume in 2024. Adoption is anchored by the EU Circular Economy Action Plan, the tire labelling regulation, and targeted funds that underwrite pyrolysis pilot lines. Continental’s long-term offtake agreement with Pyrum Innovations exemplifies how procurement policy quickly converts into booked rCB tonnage. Regional projects like BlackCycle marshal cross-border consortiums to standardize quality and logistics, reinforcing supply-chain confidence.
North America is anticipated to be the fastest-expanding region at 21.21% CAGR during 2025-2030. Federal grants, such as the USD 50 million DOE award to Cabot, catalyze commercial-scale conductive rCB for batteries, while state LCFS credits raise the floor price of pyrolysis oil[3]California Air Resources Board, “Low Carbon Fuel Standard,” arb.ca.gov . Infrastructure funding in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law earmarks tire-derived aggregate and rubber-modified asphalt programs, indirectly boosting demand for rCB by raising scrap-tire collection rates.
Asia-Pacific represents the next engine for the recovered carbon black market. Birla Carbon’s launch of Continua 8030 in India signals localized high-volume supply that tackles historical quality-consistency concerns. China’s push for waste-tire management rules and Japan’s pilot lines from Bridgestone underscore a regional pivot from landfill to valorization. Automotive production growth, coupled with increasing EPR adoption, positions Asia-Pacific to narrow the share gap with Europe during the forecast horizon.

Competitive Landscape
Competition is moderately fragmented, with the top five players estimated to control roughly half of global output. Specialist recyclers such as Scandinavian Enviro Systems, Pyrum Innovations, and Black Bear Carbon race to commission multi-line plants, while incumbents like Orion and Tokai explore equity stakes or joint ventures to secure technology. Established virgin carbon black producers leverage existing customer relationships and analytics labs to introduce “drop-in” grades, accelerating rCB qualification cycles.
Strategic differentiation centers on scale, purity enhancement, and co-product valorization. Monolith’s methane-pyrolysis platform touts near-zero scope-1 CO₂ emissions, allowing the firm to court premium end-users seeking deep decarbonization. Cabot focuses on conductive and battery segments backed by public funding, while Birla Carbon scales regional plants to address freight-cost sensitivity in Asia. Technology licensing packages that combine reactor design, off-gas cleaning, and pelletizing have become a revenue stream for innovators.
Standardization efforts under ASTM D36 are reshaping competitive dynamics by introducing common vocabulary for iodine number, ash, and DBP oil absorption. Firms quick to align internal quality-control protocols with these methods win sourcing preference from large tire OEMs. At the same time, robust M&A pipelines show incumbents acquiring niche recyclers to accelerate in-house circular-economy portfolios.
Recovered Carbon Black Industry Leaders
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Black Bear Carbon B.V.
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Bolder Industries
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Orion Engineered Carbons GmbH
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Pyrum Innovations AG
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Scandinavian Enviro Systems AB
- *Disclaimer: Major Players sorted in no particular order

Recent Industry Developments
- November 2024: Pyrum Innovations AG received unlimited delivery approval from Continental for recovered carbon black produced at its Dillingen plant. The approval clears the way for expanded volumes once a dedicated grinding and pelletizing unit comes online.
- May 2024: Orion S.A. has announced its investment in Alpha Carbone, a France-based tire recycling company. This partnership aims to support Alpha Carbone in scaling its operations to produce commercial volumes of tire pyrolysis oil and recovered carbon black.
Global Recovered Carbon Black Market Report Scope
Recovered carbon black is derived from the scrap tires during recycling. It is an eco-friendly agent produced by the pyrolysis process and is a very fine particle size of less than 10 microns, pelletized, dried, and then packaged. The recovered carbon black market is segmented by application, end-user industry, and geography. By application, the market is segmented into batteries, tires, plastics, non-tire rubber, dyes, and pigments. By end-user industry, the market is segmented into printing and packaging, industrial, building and construction, electronics, automotive, and other end-user industries. The report also covers the market size and forecasts for the recovered carbon black market in 15 countries across major regions. For each segment, the market sizing and forecasts have been done on the basis of volume (kilo tons).
By Grade | Rubber Grade rCB | ||
Specialty / Conductive Grade rCB | |||
By Application | Tires | ||
Plastics | |||
Batteries | |||
Non Tyre Rubber | |||
Dyes and Pigments | |||
By End-User Industry | Printing and Packaging | ||
Industrial | |||
Building and Construction | |||
Electronics | |||
Automotive | |||
Others (Energy Storage) | |||
By Production Technology | Pyrolysis | ||
Gasification | |||
Others | |||
By Geography | Asia-Pacific | China | |
India | |||
Japan | |||
South Korea | |||
ASEAN | |||
Rest of Asia-Pacific | |||
North America | United States | ||
Canada | |||
Mexico | |||
Europe | Germany | ||
United Kingdom | |||
France | |||
Italy | |||
Spain | |||
Nordics | |||
Rest of Europe | |||
South America | Brazil | ||
Argentina | |||
Rest of South America | |||
Middle East and Africa | Saudi Arabia | ||
United Arab Emirates | |||
Turkey | |||
South Africa | |||
Egypt | |||
Nigeria | |||
Rest of Middle East and Africa |
Rubber Grade rCB |
Specialty / Conductive Grade rCB |
Tires |
Plastics |
Batteries |
Non Tyre Rubber |
Dyes and Pigments |
Printing and Packaging |
Industrial |
Building and Construction |
Electronics |
Automotive |
Others (Energy Storage) |
Pyrolysis |
Gasification |
Others |
Asia-Pacific | China |
India | |
Japan | |
South Korea | |
ASEAN | |
Rest of Asia-Pacific | |
North America | United States |
Canada | |
Mexico | |
Europe | Germany |
United Kingdom | |
France | |
Italy | |
Spain | |
Nordics | |
Rest of Europe | |
South America | Brazil |
Argentina | |
Rest of South America | |
Middle East and Africa | Saudi Arabia |
United Arab Emirates | |
Turkey | |
South Africa | |
Egypt | |
Nigeria | |
Rest of Middle East and Africa |
Key Questions Answered in the Report
What is the current size of the recovered carbon black market?
The market totals 136.44 kilotons in 2025 and is projected to grow to 341.96 kilotons by 2030.
What annual growth rate is expected for recovered carbon black between 2025 and 2030?
Forecasts indicate a robust 20.18% compound annual growth rate over the period.
Which end-use sector consumes the most recovered carbon black today?
Automotive applications account for 72% of global demand in 2024.
Which region leads global demand for recovered carbon black?
Europe holds the top position with 51% of worldwide volume in 2024.
How does recovered carbon black compare with virgin carbon black on cost?
Recovered grades typically sell at a 15-20% discount while offering comparable performance in many tire and plastic compounds.
What technology produces most recovered carbon black?
Continuous tire pyrolysis supplies about 90% of global output and is forecast to expand at a 22% CAGR through 2030.
Page last updated on: June 26, 2025