Recap Biocarbon in Metallurgy 2026 - Krakow

Biocarbon in Metallurgy 2026 made one thing very clear: this space is no longer emerging. It is taking shape.

IBTC Vice President Tom Sieverts contributed to the programme with a presentation on global biocarbon market development, technology progress and the supply outlook for metallurgy, setting the scene for many of the discussions that followed.

The fourth edition of the conference brought together more than 150 participants from industry, technology, research and policy. What stood out was the level of focus. This has clearly become one of the key meeting points for Circular Biocarbon in metallurgical applications. The market need is real and increasingly concrete. Across steel, ferroalloys, silicon and aluminium, companies are actively exploring how biogenic carbon can replace fossil inputs. This was reflected in the depth and technical quality of the programme over both days.

At the same time, the complexity of the sector remains evident. Each application comes with its own material requirements and process constraints. There is no one-size-fits-all solution, which makes standardisation and scale-up more demanding.

One of the strongest recurring themes throughout the conference was the current disconnect between production and industrial adoption. Producers require reliable off-take agreements to justify investment into industrial production capacity. Industrial users, on the other hand, require proven volumes, consistent product quality and reliable supply structures before they can commit commercially.

This dynamic continues to slow broader market development.

And yet, the direction is clearly visible. Compared to previous years, discussions have become significantly more concrete. The technologies are advancing, industrial testing is increasing and the understanding of the specific requirements for different metallurgical applications is improving rapidly.

This is exactly why platforms like this conference matter. They bring together the right stakeholders to align expectations, test assumptions and collectively define what Circular Biocarbon must deliver in real industrial environments.

The market is not fully mature yet, but momentum is clearly building.

IBTC looks forward to continuing this dialogue and deepening collaboration with the conference and its participants in the future.