Buying Coconut Shell Activated Carbon from Sri Lanka

June 6, 2026

Activated carbon charcoal

By the SriLankaExport.com Trade Desk · researched & fact-checked against primary sources

Coconut-shell charcoal and activated carbon

Coconut-shell is the hardest biomass used for activated carbon, which is why coconut-shell activated carbon has the highest micropore volume and iodine values of any plant source. Sri Lanka’s mature coconut industry makes it one of the most reliable origins for high-grade coconut-shell charcoal and activated carbon: used in water treatment, food and beverage decolouration, gold recovery, air purification and pharmaceuticals.

Product Range

  • Raw coconut-shell charcoal: for shisha/hookah, BBQ and as feedstock.
  • Granular Activated Carbon (GAC): water/air treatment, gold recovery.
  • Powdered Activated Carbon (PAC): decolouration, pharma.
  • Extruded/pelletised carbon: gas-phase and solvent recovery.

Specifications to Specify

ParameterTypical target
Iodine value900–1,100 mg/g (higher for premium)
Methylene blue200–300 mg/g
CTC / hardnessBy application
Mesh sizee.g. 8×16, 8×30, 12×40, or powder mesh
Moisture / ash≤5% / ≤5%
Application drives the spec: water treatment prioritizes iodine value and mesh; gold recovery prioritizes hardness and abrasion; pharma/food needs the relevant pharmacopoeia grade. Tell the exporter the use, not just “activated carbon”, and request a COA.

HS Codes & Pricing

HS CodeProduct
3802.10Activated carbon
4402.90Coconut-shell charcoal

Indicative: raw shell charcoal and activated carbon vary widely by grade; request a current quote. MOQ commonly 1 MT (big bags) up to a full 20-ft container (≈18 MT). SGS/third-party inspection is common for large lots.

How to Source

  1. Define application, iodine/hardness/mesh and any pharmacopoeia grade.
  2. Request COA + SGS inspection for bulk; confirm packaging (25 kg bags or 1 MT big bags).
  3. Post a sourcing request for matched quotes.

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SLE
SriLankaExport.com Trade Desk

Export specialists at Harker International (Pvt) Ltd, Kandy, Sri Lanka. Every guide is researched and verified against customs tariffs, EDB data and the relevant international standards. Our editorial standards & team →