The global granular biochar market has experienced notable growth in recent years, driven by increasing demand for sustainable products. Granular biochar is manufactured using raw materials such as sewage, yard waste, food waste, crop residues, and hardwood species. In granular biochar production, feedstock and processing conditions play an important role in the yield and properties of the final product. The application of biochar to the soil helps in the reduction of offsite pollution. It increases the retention of nutrients such as phosphorous and nitrogen in the soil. This decreases the leaching of nutrients from the soil into the groundwater and helps save nutrients from erosion due to the surface water flow.
The increasing use of granular biochar in agriculture due to its advanced benefits have further facilitated the expansion of the granular biochar market. Using various application rates and preparation techniques, granular biochar is applied to agricultural soils. The rate of application and preparation of the granular biochar mainly depends upon specific soil conditions and the materials used to make the granular biochar. Granular biochar helps to improve soil fertility, which stimulates plant growth. Due to granular biochar's ability to retain soil nutrients for long periods, it reduces the need for chemical fertilizers. Further, the global granular biochar market trends include the use of granular biochar in water and wastewater treatment
Agriculture is one of the major areas of application for granular biochar. The agriculture industry is proliferating and providing several opportunities for the granular biochar market growth. In recent years, the interest in using biochar in agriculture has been increasing due to the beneficial properties of this material. The application of granular biochar to temperate soil can improve a variety of soil health indicators. Soil health is the capacity of the soil to function as a living system to sustain biological productivity and maintain environmental quality. Granular biochar has the potential to retain soil nutrients such as ammonium, nitrate, and phosphorus, and this effect is most readily observed in light-textured soils. Granular biochar helps to improve soil fertility status and increase crop productivity.
Soil degradation is a major concern in agriculture globally. Biochar is applied to degraded soils to enhance their quality and address this burgeoning problem. Granular biochar helps to improve soil quality by enhancing soil structure, increasing water retention and aggregation, decreasing acidity, improving porosity, regulating nitrogen leaching, and improving microbial properties. It is also found to be beneficial for composting. It helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions and prevents the loss of nutrients in the compost material. It also helps to reduce the compost's ammonia losses, bulk density, and odor. These associated benefits of granular biochar are bolstering its demand from the agriculture industry.
In North America, various regional groups support the production and use of biochar in the agriculture industry. For instance, the Pacific Northwest Biochar Atlas is a resource for biochar users and producers. Pacific Northwest Biochar Atlas guides farmers, gardeners, and other end users on the potential benefits of biochar, including decision support tools to select biochar and amendment rates. The California Biochar Association seeks to build a strong and cohesive state-wide voice advocating for the production and use of biochar in agriculture and other industries. Further, the mission of the Sonoma Biochar Initiative is to engage stakeholders in the advantages of biochar as a tool for climate policy and agricultural benefit. Thus, the rising demand for granular biochar from the agriculture industry is driving the global granular biochar market growth.
According to the United Nations, the global population is expected to rise by ~2 billion people in the next 30 years; it is expected to surge from 8 billion in 2022 to 9.7 billion by 2050. The population would further peak at ~10.4 billion in the mid–2080s. These stats have been alarming the agricultural sector about the subsequently increasing food demand. As a result, agriculturists across the world are focusing on modifying farming practices to obtain high yields from smaller cultivation areas. Hence, the need for fertilizers in farming, including granular biochar, increases with a major focus on crop protection and yield enhancement in the agricultural sector. Thus, various advantages of granular biochar for crop protection and yield enhancement contribute to the global granular biochar market size. Granular biochar contains contaminants introduced by its feedstock or co-produced during pyrolysis. Granular biochar manufactured by pyrolysis at high temperatures under limited oxygen conditions can contain well-known contaminants such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), potentially toxic elements (PTEs), dioxins, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and emerging contaminants such as persistent free radicals and metal cyanide. Thus, contaminants in granular biochar are restraining the growth of the granular biochar market.
The "Global Granular Biochar Market to 2030" is a specialized and in-depth study with a significant focus on market trends and opportunities. The report aims to provide an overview of the market with detailed market segmentation on the basis of product type, application, and geography. The global granular biochar market has witnessed significant growth over the past few years and is expected to continue this trend during the forecast period. The report provides key statistics on the use of granular biochar worldwide, along with their demand in major regions and countries. It also provides a qualitative assessment of various factors affecting the market performance in major regions and countries. The report also includes a comprehensive analysis of the leading market players and their key strategic developments. Several analyses on the market dynamics are also included to help identify the key driving factors, market trends, and lucrative opportunities that would, in turn, aid in identifying the significant revenue pockets.
Ecosystem analysis and Porter’s five forces analysis also provide a 360-degree view of the global granular biochar market analysis, which helps understand the entire supply chain and various factors affecting the market growth.
The global granular biochar market is segmented on the basis of product type and application. In terms of product type, the market is segmented into wood source biochar, corn and wheat source biochar, and others. By application, the market is segmented into soil conditioners, fertilizers, and others.
Based on product type, the corn and wheat source biochar segment held a significant global granular biochar market share in 2022. Corn and wheat source biochar is derived from corn straw, and corn source biochar is mixed with all alkaline soil at 0%, 2.5%, 5%, and 10% loading levels and exposed to natural elements. Biochar is produced from corn sources in slow pyrolysis of corn straw at 450 degrees with a residence time of 2 hours under limited oxygen conditions. Based on application, the fertilizer segment led the market with a significant market share in 2022. Granular biochar, with its porous structure and high carbon content, has gained prominence as a versatile soil amendment, offering a range of benefits for plant growth and nutrient retention. As a fertilizer alternative, granular biochar improves soil fertility by enhancing nutrient availability and uptake for plants.
The granular biochar market report provides a detailed regional overview of the market. APAC accounted for a significant global granular biochar market share and was valued at ~US$ 55 million in 2022. China is a major contributor to the market growth in this region. North America is also expected to witness notable growth, reaching over US$ 25 million by 2030. Furthermore, in Europe, there has been a widespread use of granular biochar. The granular biochar market in Europe is expected to report a CAGR of ~12% from 2022 to 2030.
The regional trends and factors influencing the Granular Biochar Market throughout the forecast period have been thoroughly explained by the analysts at Insight Partners. This section also discusses Granular Biochar Market segments and geography across North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa, and South and Central America.
| Report Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Market size in 2022 | US$ 68.79 Million |
| Market Size by 2030 | US$ 172.1 Million |
| Global CAGR (2022 - 2030) | 12.1% |
| Historical Data | 2020-2021 |
| Forecast period | 2023-2030 |
| Segments Covered |
By Product Type
|
| Regions and Countries Covered | North America
|
| Market leaders and key company profiles |
The Granular Biochar Market market is growing rapidly, driven by increasing end-user demand due to factors such as evolving consumer preferences, technological advancements, and greater awareness of the product's benefits. As demand rises, businesses are expanding their offerings, innovating to meet consumer needs, and capitalizing on emerging trends, which further fuels market growth.
Market players density refers to the distribution of firms or companies operating within a particular market or industry. It indicates how many competitors (market players) are present in a given market space relative to its size or total market value.
Major Companies operating in the Granular Biochar Market are:
Disclaimer: The companies listed above are not ranked in any particular order.
Partnerships, acquisitions, and new product launches are a few prominent strategies adopted by the players operating in the global granular biochar market.
Cyclic Carbon Pty Ltd, Advanced Renewable Technology International Inc, CharGrow USA LLC, Airex Energy Inc, Carbonis GmbH & Co KG, Pyreg GmbH, Oregon Biochar Solutions, Arsta Eco Pvt Ltd, American BioChar Co, and BioChar6 are a few major players analyzed in the global granular biochar market report.
The List of Companies - Granular Biochar Market
Granular biochar is manufactured using raw materials such as sewage, yard waste, food waste, crop residues, and hardwood species. In granular biochar production, feedstock and processing conditions play an important role in the yield and properties of the final product. The application of biochar to the soil helps in the reduction of offsite pollution. It increases the retention of nutrients such as phosphorous and nitrogen in the soil. This decreases the leaching of nutrients of soil into the groundwater and helps save nutrients from erosion due to the surface water flow. The increasing use of granular biochar in agriculture and the advanced benefits of granular biochar are the important factors driving the growth of granular biochar.
The corn and wheat source biochar segment held the largest share in the global granular biochar market in 2022. Corn and wheat source biochar is derived from corn straw, and corn source biochar is mixed with all alkaline soil at 0%, 2.5%, 5%, and 10% loading levels and exposed to natural elements. Biochar is produced from corn sources in slow pyrolysis of corn straw at 450 degrees with a residence time of 2 hours under limited oxygen conditions. Corn source biochar helps improve the productivity and quality of the crops when applied. These factors led to the dominance of the corn and wheat source biochar segment in 2022.
The soil conditioner segment is expected to register the highest CAGR in the granular biochar market from 2022 to 2030. With its unique properties, granular biochar serves as an effective soil conditioner, enhancing various aspects of soil structure and function. The porous structure of biochar acts as a sponge, holding onto moisture and preventing waterlogged conditions in the soil.
In 2022, Asia Pacific held the largest share of the global granular biochar market. The demand for granular biochar in Asia Pacific is expected to grow significantly during the studied forecast period, owing to increased agricultural production. Countries in the region, such as Indonesia, suffer from problems such as the lack of water and poor-quality soil. Granular biochar helps improve soil fertility by maintaining acidity levels and restoring soil nutrients. Granular biochar is produced in the nation by several small and medium-sized manufacturers. As a result, the granular biochar market has huge potential in Asia Pacific.
The fertilizer segment held the largest share of the global granular biochar market in 2022. Granular biochar, with its porous structure and high carbon content, has gained prominence as a versatile soil amendment, offering a range of benefits for plant growth and nutrient retention. As a fertilizer alternative, granular biochar improves soil fertility by enhancing nutrient availability and uptake for plants. Beyond nutrient management, granular biochar has the potential to mitigate the environmental impacts of traditional fertilizers. By reducing nutrient runoff and leaching, biochar-based fertilizers can help address water pollution issues associated with excessive fertilizer application. All these factors led to the dominance of fertilizer segment in 2022.
Some of the players operating in the global granular biochar market include Cyclic Carbon Pty Ltd, Advanced Renewable Technology International Inc, CharGrow USA LLC, Airex Energy Inc, Carbonis GmbH & Co KG, Pyreg GmbH, Oregon Biochar Solutions, Arsta Eco Pvt Ltd, American BioChar Co, and BioChar6.