United Kingdom Carbon Dioxide Market Report and Forecast 2024-2032

United Kingdom Carbon Dioxide Market Size

The United Kingdom carbon dioxide market attained a volume of 725.8 KMT in 2023. The market is estimated to witness a CAGR of 1.5% during 2024-2032 to reach a volume of 840.5 KMT by 2032.

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United Kingdom Carbon Dioxide Market Outlook

• As of 2024 data, around 2.5 million gastrointestinal endoscopic procedures are carried out in the United Kingdom (UK) annually. 

• The majority of carbon dioxide used in different sectors in the United Kingdom is a byproduct of the Haber process, which is used to make ammonia. 

• CO2 is essential for carbonating beer, giving it its distinctive bubbles. In 2022, the UK produced 37,495.0 thousand hectoliters of beer.

United Kingdom Carbon Dioxide Market Growth

The United Kingdom carbon dioxide market is driven by the widespread use of CO2 in the end use sectors such as food and beverages, oil and gas, and healthcare, among others.

The UK is recognised as a leading innovator in the food and drink sector, particularly excelling in high-tech packaging, health foods, and convenient food solutions.  As of February 2024, there are 7,530 small-sized, 755 medium-sized, and 280 large-sized enterprises operating in the United Kingdom’s food and drink manufacturing industry. In the meat industry, CO2 is used for stunning animals in the slaughterhouses. Further, CO2 is widely deployed in cryogenic freezing to quickly preserve meat quality and in dry ice form for shipping, as it evaporates without adding moisture.

Figure: Trends in UK Meat Production and Exported Carcass Meat (Thousand Tonnes Dressed Carcase Weight); 2018-2023

Carbon dioxide (CO2) is essential in soft drink production to maintain carbonation while filling the bottles. Carbon dioxide’s high solubility allows it to be mixed with water to produce carbonic acid, which provides the sensory fizz on consumption. Carbon dioxide is also extremely stable when mixed with water and has proved effective in extending the shelf life of beverages.

Figure: Trends in the United Kingdom Carbonated Drinks Market by Sales Volume (Million Litres); 2018-2023

Key Trends and Developments

Growing food and beverage sector; significant government investments; expansion of oil and gas sector; and increasing production of carbon dioxide from alternate sources are the key trends impacting the carbon dioxide market growth

Jul 16, 2024

British Sugar has restarted operations at its Wissington factory, one of the UK’s largest sources of biogenic carbon dioxide (CO2), following a signed long-term agreement with Air Liquide. Under terms of the deal, British Sugar will supply the industrial gas giant with around 20,000 tonnes of CO2 annually.

Feb 6, 2024

MHI and Worley were Awarded FEED Contract for UK's First CO2 Capture Plant at a Cement Production Facility. Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI)'s technology is being deployed by leading global cement manufacturer Heidelberg Materials UK, for Front End Engineering Design (FEED), to further study the specifications of a CO2 capture plant at Padeswood Cement Works in Flintshire, UK.

Oct 6, 2023

Essar Oil UK Limited (EOUK) has selected Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd as technology provider for the development of the required basic engineering design package for its new EET Industrial Carbon Capture facility based at Stanlow, UK. This is a leading use of carbon capture technology, associated with a fluid catalytic cracker within refineries globally.

CO2 is an essential gas in the food and beverages sector

Carbon dioxide finds application in carbonated drinks (soft drinks) and in the transportation of food items in the form of dry ice. As of 2024, 86.3% of UK residents consume soft drinks on a weekly basis. In 2023, the United Kingdom food and beverage manufacturing sector boasted around 22,830 small and medium enterprises.

Government investment in CCUS technology is expected to ease the supply of CO2 in the market

By 2030, the UK government aims to store up 20–30 million tonnes of CO2 annually under its CCUS technology. This captured CO2 can be used by the UK in the production of plastics, concrete and biofuels.

CO2 finds application in the oil and gas sector

Injecting CO2 into oil reservoirs can enhance oil recovery by dissolving and displacing oil residue. Several gas and oil fields around the UK are ageing, resulting in reduced production of the fossil fuels. Decommissioning accounted for 12% of total oil and gas expenditure in the UK continental shelf in 2022. The presence of mature oil fields presents an opportunity for CO2 based EOR to increase oil production from mature oil fields.

Production of CO2 through alternate sources

Apart from ammonia, obtaining bio-CO2 from biodegradable feedstocks can ensure a climate-friendly CO2 production process for companies and reduce their reliance on fossil fuels. Key producers of biogenic CO2 in the UK include Green Create and Ensus UK Ltd.

United Kingdom Carbon Dioxide Market Trends

Industrial CO2 is used to enhance the production yield of crops. However, the stream of CO2 needs to be pure enough to safeguard crops from damage. Enriched CO2 is majorly utilised for cucumber, pepper, tomato, and aubergine production. The value of home-produced vegetables or vegetables grown within the UK increased by 4.8% to around USD 2.22 billion in 2022 compared to 2021. It is estimated that by 2030, 10% of the total planted area in the UK would be utilising enriched CO2.

The healthcare sector is heavily reliant on the supply of medical-grade CO2 for critical surgeries. Surgeons deploy CO2 for stabilising body cavities during surgeries such as endoscopy, laparoscopy and arthroscopy as it provides clear visibility of the surgical area. The gas is inert, much like nitrogen making it ideal for general-purpose blanketing and packing in pharmaceutical production. In the pharmaceutical industry, CO2 is employed as a supercritical fluid and is essential for organic compound extraction. Carbon dioxide is also used for “micronisation”, which involves the production of very tiny particles of active medicinal substances.

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United Kingdom Carbon Dioxide Industry Segmentation

“United Kingdom Carbon Dioxide Market Report and Forecast 2024-2032” offers a detailed analysis of the market based on the following segments:

Market Breakup by Source

• Ammonia

• Ethyl Alcohol

• Substitute Natural Gas and CCU

Market Breakup by Production

• Biological

• Combustion

Market Breakup by End Use

• Food and Beverages

• Oil and Gas

• Medical

• Metal fabrication

• Others

United Kingdom Carbon Dioxide Market Share

Based on production, combustion accounts for a significant share of the market

Carbon dioxide is being significantly produced as a byproduct from the energy and industrial production processes such as ammonia production, fossil fuel combustion, and ethanol production. It is estimated that for every tonne of ammonia produced, between 1.9 and 2.6 metric tons of carbon dioxide is generated.

Carbon dioxide is biologically produced by the decomposition of organic matter, forest fires and other land use changes. The increased temperature levels activate the microbes to degrade the materials at a faster rate, leading to the increased production of CO2.

Based on end use, the food and beverage sector is a major contributor to the United Kingdom carbon dioxide market revenue

In the food and beverages sector, carbon dioxide is being widely adopted in fizzy drinks, for extending the shelf life of fruit and vegetables, and as dry ice for goods refrigeration. The UK had the presence of 12,460 food and drink manufacturing businesses as of 2021 data. The food and beverage manufacturing sector is considered the largest manufacturing sector in the UK, with an industry output of USD 40.82 billion in 2022.

Carbon dioxide finds application in the medical sector for insufflation in surgeries like laparoscopy and arthroscopy, in cryotherapy devices, and is also combined with oxygen to induce respiratory stimulation in patients. In the United Kingdom, as of 2023, more than 60,000 laparoscopic cholecystectomies (LC) are performed annually, while around 184,000 adults are admitted to an intensive care unit (ICU) each year with over 30% receiving mechanical ventilation.

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Leading Companies in the United Kingdom Carbon Dioxide Market

The market players are focusing on providing products at competitive prices, with improved customer service and product support.

Ensus UK Limited

Ensus UK Ltd. is primarily engaged in the manufacturing of biomass-based renewable products. The company has an annual carbon dioxide production capacity of 250 thousand tons. The carbon dioxide produced during ethanol production is provided and liquified by Wilton-based company Nippon Gases, for application in the industrial and medical sectors. Ensus UK is a subsidiary of Germany based CropEnergies AG.

BioCarbonics Ltd.

Founded in 2019, BioCarbonics is primarily engaged in the production of Green CO2, which is a by-product of green gas production generated from anaerobic digestion of green feedstocks. The company is currently operating in southwest of England and is also expanding its supply chain to the rest of the United Kingdom.

Tata Chemicals Europe Limited

Tata Chemicals Europe, based in Cheshire, is UK’s only manufacturer of sodium bicarbonate and soda ash. Founded in 1847, the company manufactures sodium carbonate and sodium bicarbonate with the world’s one of the lowest carbon footprints. The sodium bicarbonate finds application in food and animal feed, flue gas treatments, detergents, haemodialysis, pharmaceuticals, and personal care products, among others.

YARA International ASA

Yara International ASA is the world’s leading crop nutrition company and a provider of  environmental and agricultural solutions. Headquartered in Norway, the company provides farming solutions through its three regional units based in Africa and Asia, the Americas and Europe, where they operate in a fully integrated setup.

Prominent suppliers of carbon dioxide to end use industries in the UK are BOC Limited, Air Products PLC, Air Liquide UK Ltd., Nippon Gases UK Limited, and PROGASES (UK) Ltd, among others.

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United Kingdom Carbon Dioxide Market Report Snapshots

United Kingdom Carbon Dioxide Market Size

United Kingdom Carbon Dioxide Market Growth

United Kingdom Carbon Dioxide Market Trends

United Kingdom Carbon Dioxide Market Share

United Kingdom Carbon Dioxide Companies