From the towering skylines of China to the ambitious infrastructure of Vision 2030, the global cement industry, a staggering 4.1-billion-metric-ton engine of construction, is a complex landscape of growth, challenge, and remarkable scale.
Key Takeaways
- Global cement production reached 4.1 billion metric tons in 2022, a 2.5% increase from 2021
- China produced 2.02 billion metric tons of cement in 2022, representing 49.3% of the world's total production
- India's cement production stood at 336 million metric tons in FY2022-23, up 8% year-over-year
- Worldwide apparent cement consumption was 4.25 billion metric tons in 2022, up 3.1% from 2021
- China's cement consumption dropped to 1.89 billion tons in 2022, down 6% due to real estate slowdown
- India consumed 360 million metric tons of cement in FY2022-23, growing 10% YoY
- The global cement market size was valued at USD 338.5 billion in 2022
- Cement industry revenue worldwide expected to reach USD 400 billion by 2027, CAGR 3.5%
- China's cement market share is 50% of global value at USD 170 billion in 2022
- Cement industry CO2 emissions total 2.3 billion tons annually, 4% of global anthropogenic CO2
- Process emissions from clinker production contribute 60% of cement sector CO2
- Fuel combustion accounts for 40% of cement industry CO2 emissions globally
- Global cement trade volume was 220 million metric tons in 2022, up 2% YoY
- Turkey exported 30 million tons of cement in 2022, world's top exporter
- Vietnam exported 35 million tons in 2022, second largest exporter
Global cement production grows despite regional declines in consumption.
Consumption Statistics
- Worldwide apparent cement consumption was 4.25 billion metric tons in 2022, up 3.1% from 2021
- China's cement consumption dropped to 1.89 billion tons in 2022, down 6% due to real estate slowdown
- India consumed 360 million metric tons of cement in FY2022-23, growing 10% YoY
- US cement consumption reached 108 million metric tons in 2022, up 4%
- Vietnam's domestic consumption was 72 million tons in 2022, with per capita at 0.72 tons
- Europe consumed 142 million tons in 2022, down 4.5% amid high energy prices
- Indonesia's cement consumption grew to 70 million tons in 2022, up 5%
- Turkey consumed 55 million tons domestically in 2022, despite earthquake impacts later
- Brazil's consumption was 42 million tons in 2022, recovering post-pandemic
- Saudi Arabia consumed 48 million tons of cement in 2022, driven by Vision 2030 projects
- Global per capita cement consumption averages 0.53 tons, highest in Asia at 0.8 tons
- US per capita consumption is 0.32 tons annually, focused on infrastructure
- India's per capita cement use rose to 0.25 tons in FY2023 from 0.23 in 2022
- Europe's per capita consumption fell to 0.19 tons in 2022 from 0.20 tons
- Middle East consumption totals 220 million tons annually, led by Saudi at 48 million
- Africa's cement consumption reached 110 million tons in 2022, growing 5% YoY
- Latin America's consumption was 160 million tons in 2022, up 3%
- Japan's cement consumption declined to 47 million tons in 2022, down 2%
- South Korea consumed 52 million tons in 2022, stable YoY
- Egypt's domestic use was 40 million tons in 2022
- Russia's consumption dropped to 50 million tons in 2022 due to economic pressures
- Mexico consumed 48 million tons in 2022, up 4%
- Thailand's consumption was 28 million tons in 2022
- Global cement demand projected to grow 2% annually to 2030, reaching 5 billion tons
Consumption Statistics Interpretation
While China's construction engine cools and Europe grapples with energy prices, the world's cement addiction still grows—sustained by India's double-digit ambitions, America's infrastructure renewal, and Saudi Arabia's giga-projects—proving that concrete dreams remain the bedrock of modern development, for better or worse.
Environmental Impact Statistics
- Cement industry CO2 emissions total 2.3 billion tons annually, 4% of global anthropogenic CO2
- Process emissions from clinker production contribute 60% of cement sector CO2
- Fuel combustion accounts for 40% of cement industry CO2 emissions globally
- Cement production consumes 5% of global industrial energy, 13% total energy in some countries
- Alternative fuels used in cement kilns reached 30% thermal substitution rate in Europe 2022
- Global cement sector water usage 200 billion cubic meters annually
- Limestone quarrying for cement emits 0.5 tons CO2 per ton of cement indirectly
- Europe's cement industry reduced CO2 intensity by 20% since 1990 to 0.65 tons per ton cement
- China aims for 30% carbon intensity reduction in cement by 2030 from 2020 levels
- Biomass and waste fuels replace 5% of fossil fuels globally in cement production
- Cement kilns capture 1 million tons of CO2 annually via mineralisation pilots
- Dust emissions from cement plants controlled to <10 mg/Nm3 in EU standards
- NOx emissions average 500 mg/Nm3 globally, targeted <200 mg in advanced plants
- SOx emissions reduced 80% in Europe since 1990 via scrubbers
- Mercury emissions from cement <0.05 mg/Nm3 in best available techniques
- Land use for cement raw materials 0.1% of industrial mining globally
- Recycled materials in cement production reach 15% in EU, reducing virgin demand
- Carbon capture utilization storage (CCUS) pilots in cement total 10 Mtpa capacity planned by 2030
- Cement industry biodiversity programs cover 500 quarries worldwide
- Water recycling rates in cement plants average 80% in water-stressed areas
- Global cement CO2 emissions peaked at 2.4 Gt in 2018, stable since
- India's cement sector CO2 emissions 500 Mt annually, 8% national total
- US cement emissions 50 Mt CO2 in 2022, down 10% decade-over-decade
- Alternative raw materials like fly ash used 200 Mt globally in cement
- Cement contributes to 7% global limestone extraction
Environmental Impact Statistics Interpretation
The cement industry has built its way to becoming a heavyweight climate offender, emitting a staggering 2.3 billion tons of CO2 annually, but it's now trying to pour itself a new, greener foundation by boosting alternative fuels, recycling materials, and pioneering carbon capture technologies.
Market and Economic Statistics
- The global cement market size was valued at USD 338.5 billion in 2022
- Cement industry revenue worldwide expected to reach USD 400 billion by 2027, CAGR 3.5%
- China's cement market share is 50% of global value at USD 170 billion in 2022
- Indian cement market valued at USD 20 billion in FY2023, with 140+ producers
- US cement market size USD 13.5 billion in 2022, imports 25% of supply
- Global cement prices averaged USD 82 per ton in 2022, up 10% YoY
- Europe cement prices surged to EUR 120 per ton in Q4 2022 due to energy crisis
- Top cement company LafargeHolcim revenue USD 28.2 billion in 2022
- CNBM Group, world's largest, reported USD 40 billion revenue from cement in 2022
- Adani Cement's market cap reached USD 15 billion in 2023
- Global cement trade value USD 15 billion annually, 5% of production traded
- Cement contributes 1.5% to global GDP in producing countries
- Industry employs 4.5 million directly worldwide, supporting 10 million jobs indirectly
- R&D spending in cement sector USD 2 billion annually, 0.6% of revenue
- Mergers and acquisitions in cement hit USD 10 billion in 2022
- Vietnam cement market value USD 5.5 billion in 2022
- Saudi cement market USD 4.2 billion, dominated by Yamama and Yamal
- Brazilian cement sector revenue BRL 25 billion in 2022
- Turkish cement EBITDA margin averaged 25% in 2022 despite inflation
- Global cement capacity investments USD 50 billion planned 2023-2027
- Cement price in India averaged INR 350 per bag (50kg) in 2023, up 8%
- US average cement price USD 135 per metric ton in 2022
- Cement industry capital expenditure globally USD 20 billion in 2022
- Cement accounts for 5-7% of construction project costs worldwide
Market and Economic Statistics Interpretation
While China continues to single-handedly solidify its dominance by holding half the global market, the cement industry worldwide is proving it's more than just a concrete jungle, binding together trillions in economic value and millions of livelihoods even as its price tags—and its environmental footprint—set hard.
Production Statistics
- Global cement production reached 4.1 billion metric tons in 2022, a 2.5% increase from 2021
- China produced 2.02 billion metric tons of cement in 2022, representing 49.3% of the world's total production
- India's cement production stood at 336 million metric tons in FY2022-23, up 8% year-over-year
- The United States produced 90.7 million metric tons of cement in 2022, a slight decline from 92 million in 2021
- Vietnam's cement output hit 99.5 million metric tons in 2022, driven by infrastructure projects
- Europe's cement production totaled 169 million metric tons in 2022, down 3% from the previous year due to energy costs
- Indonesia produced 65.4 million metric tons of cement in 2022, with capacity utilization at 72%
- Turkey's cement production was 70.2 million metric tons in 2022, boosted by exports
- Brazil outputted 37.8 million metric tons of cement in 2022, recovering 5% from 2021
- Saudi Arabia's cement production reached 58.6 million metric tons in 2022, up 4%
- Global clinker production was 3.45 billion metric tons in 2022, accounting for 84% of cement production
- China's clinker capacity exceeded 2.5 billion metric tons annually in 2022
- Integrated cement plants worldwide number over 3,200 with total capacity of 5.8 billion tons per year as of 2023
- Grinding plants globally total around 1,500, contributing 20% of cement production via imports
- Asia accounts for 75% of global cement production capacity at 6.2 billion tons annually
- The top 10 cement producers hold 55% of global capacity, led by CNBM at 400 million tons
- Global cement kiln capacity utilization averaged 75% in 2022, down from 78% pre-COVID
- Portland cement dominates with 90% market share in production worldwide
- Low-carbon cement production pilots reached 5 million tons capacity in Europe by 2023
- US cement capacity utilization was 85% in 2022, producing 92 million short tons of clinker
- Egypt's cement production hit 55 million metric tons in 2022, with exports at 15 million tons
- Russia's output was 57.8 million tons in 2022, impacted by sanctions
- Mexico produced 36.5 million metric tons in 2022, up 3% YoY
- Thailand's cement production reached 32.4 million tons in 2022
- Global cement production per capita averages 0.53 tons annually
- Iran's cement output was 65 million tons in 2022, leading Middle East production
- Pakistan produced 45.2 million tons in FY2022-23, up 10%
- Algeria's production stood at 20.5 million tons in 2022
- Global cement production growth projected at 1.2% CAGR to 4.35 billion tons by 2027
Production Statistics Interpretation
It’s a tale of two worlds, really: while China single-handedly churns out nearly half the planet’s concrete glue and Asia solidifies its dominance, the West is quietly mixing a more cautious batch, sobered by energy bills and the slow, stubborn rise of greener alternatives.
Trade and Regional Statistics
- Global cement trade volume was 220 million metric tons in 2022, up 2% YoY
- Turkey exported 30 million tons of cement in 2022, world's top exporter
- Vietnam exported 35 million tons in 2022, second largest exporter
- China exported 10 million tons net in 2022, down from peaks due to domestic focus
- US imported 25 million tons of cement in 2022, 23% of consumption
- Intra-EU cement trade 50 million tons annually
- Middle East exports totaled 40 million tons in 2022, led by UAE at 12 million
- Asia-Pacific cement trade 100 million tons, 45% of global
- Africa imported 20 million tons net in 2022, intra-regional trade growing
- Latin America exports 15 million tons, Brazil key player at 5 million
- Spain exported 10 million tons in 2022, focusing on North Africa
- Egypt exported 15 million tons in 2022
- Indonesia exported 2 million tons net, prioritizing domestic market
- Russia exported 15 million tons before 2022 disruptions
- Mexico imported 10 million tons, exported 3 million in 2022
- Global clinker trade 110 million tons in 2022, half of total cementitious trade
- Top importer USA at 25 Mt, followed by Philippines 12 Mt
- Freight costs for cement doubled to USD 70/ton in 2022 peak
- Belt and Road Initiative boosted China's cement exports to 20 countries by 10 Mt
- EU carbon border adjustment mechanism impacts cement imports from 2026
Trade and Regional Statistics Interpretation
While the world's cement trade of 220 million tons in 2022 shows a globalized market stubbornly glued together by Turkey, Vietnam, and the Middle East, the real story is the precarious, carbon-intensive patchwork of regional shortages and surpluses that leaves the U.S. desperately importing a quarter of its needs and everyone nervously watching the EU's coming carbon tax.
Sources & References
- Reference 1STATISTAstatista.comVisit source
- Reference 2GLOBALCEMENTglobalcement.comVisit source
- Reference 3IBEFibef.orgVisit source
- Reference 4PUBSpubs.usgs.govVisit source
- Reference 5CEMBUREAUcembureau.euVisit source
- Reference 6WORLDCEMENTworldcement.comVisit source
- Reference 7WORLDCEMENTASSOCIATIONworldcementassociation.orgVisit source
- Reference 8IEAiea.orgVisit source
- Reference 9GLOBALCCSINSTITUTEglobalccsinstitute.comVisit source