chemical · input
Finely divided carbon particles produced by incomplete combustion of aromatic oil; 25-30% of tire weight; primary reinforcing filler that gives tires >300% tensile strength vs unfilled rubber; Cabot, Birla Carbon, and Orion are top global suppliers
5
Source countries
6
Companies
1
Goods affected
0
Claims on record
What depends on it
1 essential American goods rely on carbon black (n-series tire grades) somewhere upstream in their supply chain.
Where it comes from
Share of global supply, by country.
| Country | Share of supply |
|---|---|
| CNChina | 46% |
| USUnited States | 12% |
| INIndia | 10% |
| DEGermany | 6% |
| JPJapan | 5% |
Who makes it
6 companies produce carbon black (n-series tire grades).
One of the world's three largest carbon black producers; tire-grade carbon black (Specialty Fluids, Reinforcement Materials segment) accounts for ~70% of Cabot revenue; operates plants across the Americas, Europe, and Asia supplying all major tire manufacturers.
World's largest carbon black producer by volume (~11-12% global share, 2.13 Mt/yr capacity). 19 plants in 14 countries. Part of Aditya Birla Group -- the same conglomerate that owns Novelis (world's largest aluminum flat-rolled producer) and Hindalco. This means a single Indian family-controlled conglomerate controls the world's largest aluminum sheet rolling company AND the world's largest carbon black producer -- two critical tire manufacturing inputs.
NYSE-listed specialty carbon black producer; ~7% global share (1.37 Mt/yr). 15 plants on 3 continents. Operates world's longest-running carbon black plant at Kalscheuren/Cologne, Germany (est. ~1860s). Produces both rubber-grade (tire) and specialty-grade (ink, coatings, electronics) carbon black. 2024 10-K flagged structural demand headwind: elevated Chinese tire imports into North America and Europe displacing commodity CB demand.
China's largest single domestic carbon black producer (~6% global share, 1.14 Mt/yr). Shenzhen A-share listed. Produces N-series rubber-grade carbon black primarily for Chinese tire manufacturers. Uses coal-tar-derived feedstock (CBFS from coke-oven operations). Coal-tar CBFS gives different PAH surface chemistry vs. petroleum-based CBFS from Western producers.
Major Japanese carbon black producer (~5% global share, ~0.94 Mt/yr); also produces graphite electrodes, silicon carbide, and fine carbon products. 7 Japanese carbon black plants + international operations (Thailand, Canada, US). Cancarb subsidiary (Medicine Hat, Alberta) is the world's primary thermal black producer -- a distinct carbon black type used in specialty applications.
India's largest domestic carbon black producer (~4% global share, 770 kMT/yr); part of RP-Sanjiv Goenka Group. 5 plants in India (Durgapur, Mundra, Palej, Kochi, Chennai). ~30% domestic India market share. Supplies Apollo Tyres, CEAT, MRF domestically. Also exports to Southeast Asia and Middle East.
