The global carbon disulfide market is projected to grow from USD 180.5 million in 2025 to USD 228.8 million by 2035, reflecting a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 2.4% during the forecast period. This growth is expected to be supported by stable demand across mining, agriculture, and specialty chemical applications, where carbon disulfide continues to serve as a critical chemical intermediate.
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Market Size (2025E) | USD 180.5 Million |
| Market Value (2035F) | USD 228.8 Million |
| CAGR (2025 to 2035) | 2.4% |
Carbon disulfide is widely used in the manufacture of rayon, cellophane, and flotation agents such as xanthates, which are essential in the extraction of metals like gold and copper. In the agricultural sector, it is used in the formulation of certain crop protection products. These applications continue to support market relevance, particularly in regions where resource-based industries and commodity processing remain strong. For example, mining-intensive economies in Asia Pacific and Latin America maintain consistent consumption due to xanthate-based flotation processes.
Environmental regulations are influencing production practices, especially in North America and Europe, where stricter emission norms require safer handling and lower emissions. This has led to the adoption of cleaner production methods and more controlled supply chains. Usage is expected to remain concentrated in industries that can justify carbon disulfide’s performance advantages despite its hazardous nature.
Competition is observed from alternative solvents such as dimethyl sulfoxide, sulfuryl fluoride, and selected chlorinated compounds, particularly in sectors where lower toxicity is prioritized. Even so, carbon disulfide retains a strong position in applications where substitutes are either less effective or economically unviable.
The market structure remains consolidated, with few players involved in its production. This is attributed to stringent safety regulations, the need for specialized infrastructure, and technical expertise in sulfur-based chemical synthesis. Buyers are generally limited to fixed industrial segments with defined needs for purity, packaging, and secure logistics. Price volatility is influenced by sulfur feedstock costs, energy prices, and environmental compliance measures. Procurement is typically based on long-term contracts, ensuring regulatory alignment and operational continuity.
Technical grade carbon disulfide is expected to account for approximately 54% of the global carbon disulfide market share in 2025 and is projected to grow at a CAGR of 2.2% through 2035. This grade, typically used without extensive purification, is favored in large-scale chemical processes requiring reactivity rather than ultra-high purity.
It is primarily consumed in the manufacturing of regenerated cellulose fibers (rayon), flotation agents (xanthates), and agricultural chemicals. With the resurgence of textile manufacturing in Asia-Pacific and continued mining activities in emerging markets, demand for technical grade carbon disulfide remains stable. Producers are optimizing handling and storage protocols to meet occupational safety and environmental compliance.
The rayon and cellophane production segment is estimated to hold approximately 41% of the global carbon disulfide market share in 2025 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 2.5% through 2035. Carbon disulfide is a key intermediate in the viscose process, where it reacts with alkali cellulose to form cellulose xanthate, a precursor to rayon fibers and transparent packaging films.
Though environmental concerns have led to stricter controls around viscose production, demand remains steady in textile applications such as linings, nonwovens, and specialty fabrics. Asian countries, especially China, India, and Indonesia, continue to dominate global viscose output, supporting long-term consumption of carbon disulfide in this application. Investments in closed-loop production and emission mitigation technologies are helping manufacturers maintain output while meeting sustainability goals.
Environmental Toxicity and Worker Safety Concerns
Because carbon disulfide is toxic and hazardous, this poses many challenges to producing and handling the compound safely. Extended exposure can result in serious health problems, ranging from neurological impairment and respiratory distress to reproductive damage.
Strict safety standards in developed regions mean that it is either prohibited or it needs advanced containment measures. Logistics and storage are further complicated by high flammability and volatile emissions, which raise manufacturers operational costs.
Innovations in Containment Systems and Specialty Applications
Many approaches to making carbon disulfide safer and making its application safer offer massive opportunities as environmental regulations become mainstream. Advances in closed-loop processing, air filtration systems, and chemical recycling are all helping achieve reduced emissions and worker health protection.
Furthermore, on market-specific demand such as high demand for chemical synthesishe, laboratory-grade solvents, and pharmaceutical intermediates creates new revenue avenues. However, producers aligned with textile and agrochemical industry growth are likely to experience enduring growth and market integration if they pair sustainable practices with state-of-the-art technology.
The United States carbon disulfide market is expected to increase at a CAGR of 2.6% during the forecast timeframe. It is mainly used in the manufacture of cellophane, carbon tetrachloride and rubber accelerators. Although regulatory scrutiny around toxicity has caused demand for some traditional applications to decrease, demand for niche usesincluding those in laboratory reagents and agrochemicals has stabilized.
At present, DV manufacturers in the USA are shifting their focus to adopting controlled emission technologies and closed-loop systems to abide by environmental regulations. Moreover, focus on innovation of industrial solvents and moving towards bio-based alternatives are anticipated to influence the industrial landscape of the market in the USA.
| Country | CAGR (2025 to 2035) |
|---|---|
| United States | 2.6% |
The UK is known to hold the second largest share in the carbon disulfide market UK is estimated to witness a CAGR of 2.3% during the forecast period. Such regulatory barriers and environmental constraints exert tremendous influence over consumption tendencies. But the precursor's tentacle use in the textile, chemical and pharmaceutical sectors still keeps moderate demand alive.
Moving towards less hazardous alternatives has been fuelled by a push for safer chemical handling practices and stricter cut-off waste disposal mechanisms. Some industrial processes still use carbon disulfide, because it is a good solvent. To ensure the safety of their products, these local research institutions are also working closely with the industry to reduce occupational exposure.
| Country | CAGR (2025 to 2035) |
|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 2.3% |
Europe carbon disulfide market outlook (2025 to 2035) Europe is likely to grow at the CAGR of 2.2% in the carbon disulfide market during the forecast period. Meanwhile, nations like Germany, France and Italy are facing slow but constant demand for specialty chemicals, agrochemical intermediates and viscose rayon production.
The European Union’s chemical safety regulations (REACH) and industrial sustainable goal gives rise to more focus on the carbon disulfide usage control. While some applications were replaced by safer compounds, those in heavily regulated sectors continue to see sustained demand. European producers are investing in closed-system production and improving worker safety standards to stay compliant with such environmental regulations.
| Country | CAGR (2025 to 2035) |
|---|---|
| Europe | 2.2% |
The Japan carbon disulfide market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 2.5% during the forecast period. Although uses in consumer-facing applications have been diminished, carbon disulfide remains a key component in niche industrial manufacturing and electronics chemicals. The country’s concentration of high-purity intermediates has resulted in the chemical being used in controlled and precise doses for laboratory and specialty chemical synthesis.
Japan has robust protocols for industrial hygiene and air quality management systems for safe operating conditions that allow continued usage of hazardous chemicals. The need to balance between innovation and safety still plays a significant role in determining demand, especially in small Scale high-value industrial applications.
| Country | CAGR (2025 to 2035) |
|---|---|
| Japan | 2.5% |
South Korea Carbon Disulfide Market CAGR is 2.7%. The chemical is used in making viscose fiber, rubber chemicals and some fungicide formulas. Industrial users now have to pay more attention to handling practices and emission control systems in order to meet national environment standards.
The individual applications had led to broader market expansion being restricted by safety concerns, while application segments had countered it: electronics-grade chemicals, industrial solvents, etc. The South Korean government is actively promoting sustainable industrial practices which is pushing chemical firms to invest in closed-system processes and bring a toxic discharge down to the minimum, sustaining the demand in regulated segments.
| Country | CAGR (2025 to 2035) |
|---|---|
| South Korea | 2.7% |
The global carbon disulfide market is moderately consolidated, with both regional and international players actively participating across the value chain. Growing environmental regulations are prompting manufacturers to adopt cleaner production technologies, such as waste heat recovery systems and emission scrubbers, to comply with global standards like EU REACH and China’s Blue Sky policies. Vertical integration is becoming more common, with companies securing sulfur supply chains and aligning with end-use sectors like rayon and agrochemicals.
Geographic expansion into high-growth regions such as India, Southeast Asia, and Africa is also accelerating. Additionally, R&D efforts are focused on developing low-odor variants, solvent recovery systems, and safer storage solutions. These strategies position the market for steady growth while maintaining environmental and operational compliance.
The overall market size for the Carbon Disulfide Market was USD 180.5 Million in 2025.
The Carbon Disulfide Market is expected to reach USD 228.8 Million in 2035.
The demand is driven by increasing applications in the production of rayon and cellophane, growth in the agriculture sector for soil fumigation and grain fumigants, and expanding use in the rubber and chemical industries.
The top 5 countries driving market growth are the USA, UK, Europe, Japan, and South Korea.
The Rubber segment is expected to command a significant share over the assessment period.
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Carbon Disulfide Market
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