Biochar carbon credit offtake value surges 80% to $800 million in H1 2026

Corporate offtake purchases for biochar-based carbon credits increased by 79% year-on-year in the first half of 2026, reaching 3.17 million tonnes, according to a new Sylvera report. The aggregate value of these biochar contracts rose 80% to over $800 million from $448 million in the same period. This growth occurred despite a 65% overall contraction in the forward offtake market to 21.52 million tonnes, largely due to Microsoft pausing new deals. The report indicates a market shift where corporate buyers prioritise high-quality, durable carbon dioxide removal technologies like biochar to meet net-zero compliance standards. This trend highlights biochar's emergence as a dominant commodity within the voluntary carbon market's carbon removal portfolio.