According to the commodity market analysis system of Business Society: At the beginning of the month, the price of activated carbon was 12,766 yuan per ton, and by the end of the month, it had risen to 12,883 yuan per ton, representing an increase of 0.91%.

Domestic activated carbon manufacturers maintained firm quotations this month. The ex-factory price for coconut shell activated carbon for water purification (iodine value 1000) ranged between 11,000 and 13,500 yuan per ton. The mainstream ex-factory price for iodine value 800, including taxes, was approximately 9,500 yuan per ton, while iodine value 900 was quoted at 9,800–10,200 yuan per ton. In December 2025, China's imports of nutshell carbon (primarily coconut shell carbon) reached 17,983.77 tons, marking a month-on-month increase of 21% and a significant year-on-year growth of 52%, reflecting sustained strong downstream demand.

Starting from January 1, 2026, global shipping policies for coconut shell carbonized materials will undergo fundamental changes: coconut shell carbonized materials must be declared and transported as hazardous goods. This is primarily influenced by the amendments to the 42-24 edition of the International Maritime Organization's (IMO) International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) Code. The new regulations eliminate exemptions and impose strict controls on packaging, temperature, transportation, documentation, warehousing, and other aspects. Chinese coconut shell activated carbon enterprises are expected to face rising costs and compliance challenges.

Forecast: With the recovery in domestic demand for coconut shell activated carbon, it is anticipated that activated carbon prices will likely exhibit a volatile but generally upward trend in the short term.