The 15th edition of the Asia Pacific Carbon Black Conference, the region’s largest event for the carbon black industry, concluded today in Kolkata. Held from October 21-23, 2024, under the theme “Carbon Black: Perspectives in Asia Pacific,” the conference focused on key sectors of the carbon black value chain, including tyres, automotive components, plastics, conductive carbon black, recycled black, lab equipment, and packaging materials.
The event featured a range of keynote sessions, roundtable discussions, and technical presentations. With approximately 500 delegates from over 20 countries and 30 stalls on display, the conference attracted leading companies such as Aditya Birla Group, Thermax, Epsilon Carbon, PCBL, Birla Carbon, Himadri Speciality Chemical Ltd., Saint Gobain, Doright Company Ltd., Thai Tokai Carbon, and Morgan Advanced Materials.
Dr Manoj Pant, Chief Secretary of West Bengal, was the Chief Guest on the second day. He highlighted the sector’s projected compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.8% and encouraged investors to explore West Bengal’s growing industrial opportunities. He emphasized the importance of sustainability practices like reclaiming, recycling, and reusing materials, which are essential for the future of the circular economy. Dr. Pant also noted the increasing demand for EV tyres and battery components, calling the conference a crucial platform for discussions on the industry’s future.
Amit Choudhary, Chairman of the International Advisory Committee and Executive Director of Himadri Speciality Chemical Limited, commented, “The global tyre industry is set to invest $27.3 billion between 2023 and 2028, with India contributing $1 billion through new projects. As India boosts exports to the EU and North America to offset reduced Russian carbon black supplies, Asia, and particularly India, is poised to become a global manufacturing hub for the carbon black industry.” Choudhary also noted that the growth of the automobile sector in Asia has closely mirrored regional GDP growth, making the Asia-Pacific region pivotal in the industry’s future.
Since its inception in 1993, the Asia Pacific Carbon Black Conference has been instrumental in shaping the industry, and this year’s edition in Kolkata, the first post-pandemic conference, was a significant milestone. The event brought together delegates from around the world, including the US, Europe, UAE, South Korea, Japan, and Spain. Discussions focused on how to balance growth with sustainability, promote thought leadership, and encourage global collaboration.
The carbon black industry, valued at $28 billion, is projected to grow to $42 billion by 2032, with the Asia-Pacific region driving much of this expansion. India, aiming to meet 50% of its energy needs through renewable sources by 2030, is working to align the design of tyres with new sustainability goals, creating opportunities for innovation in the sector. As the demand for more environmentally friendly tyre designs grows, legacy materials may need to be replaced by new, greener alternatives.
The conference also featured expert panels on green finance, building certifications, innovative technologies, and global sustainability trends, providing both online and offline opportunities for industry participants to exchange ideas. This year’s event reinforced the conference’s role as a premier platform for shaping the future of a low-carbon, smart, and resilient carbon black industry.
The Asia Pacific Carbon Black Conference has been a key event for the carbon black industry since 1995. Over the years, it has traveled across the Asia-Pacific region, hosting events in cities like Taipei, Tokyo, Seoul, Bangkok, and Singapore. Despite challenges posed by the pandemic, the 15th edition in Kolkata in 2024 continues the conference’s legacy of fostering collaboration and driving growth in the global carbon black industry.
