While the humble lime industry might not grab headlines, its staggering 430 million tonne global production quietly fuels everything from the steel in our skyscrapers to the purification of our water.
Key Takeaways
- In 2022, U.S. lime production reached 18.5 million metric tons, with quicklime accounting for 80% and hydrated lime for 20%.
- Global lime production in 2021 was approximately 430 million tonnes, led by China at 300 million tonnes.
- India's lime production grew by 5.2% in 2022 to 18.4 million metric tons.
- The global lime market size was valued at USD 52.3 billion in 2022.
- U.S. lime market revenue reached $2.1 billion in 2022.
- China's lime market is projected to grow at 4.5% CAGR to 2030.
- U.S. lime consumption totaled 17.8 million tons in 2022, with steel industry at 42%.
- Global lime consumption reached 425 million tons in 2022, 70% for steel.
- China's lime consumption was 305 million tons in 2022, 85% metallurgical.
- Global lime exports reached 45 million tons in 2022, valued at USD 4.2 billion.
- U.S. lime exports were 1.2 million tons in 2022, mainly to Canada.
- China lime exports totaled 15.6 million tons in 2022 to Asia.
- Global lime industry CO2 emissions from production averaged 0.78 tons per ton of lime in 2022.
- U.S. lime plants recycled 1.5 million tons of kiln dust in 2022.
- EU lime sector reduced energy intensity by 15% since 2010 to 5.2 GJ/ton in 2021.
China leads booming global lime production driven primarily by steel industry demand.
Consumption
- U.S. lime consumption totaled 17.8 million tons in 2022, with steel industry at 42%.
- Global lime consumption reached 425 million tons in 2022, 70% for steel.
- China's lime consumption was 305 million tons in 2022, 85% metallurgical.
- EU lime consumption 19.5 million tons in 2021, construction 35%.
- India's lime use in agriculture was 12 million tons in 2022.
- U.S. construction sector consumed 5.2 million tons of lime in 2022.
- Brazil agricultural lime consumption 10.8 million tons in 2021.
- Mexico steel industry lime use 4.1 million tons in 2022.
- Japan's environmental lime consumption 2.5 million tons in 2021.
- Australia's gold mining lime use 0.9 million tons in 2022.
- Germany's flue gas treatment lime use 3.8 million tons in 2021.
- South Korea steel lime consumption 6.2 million tons in 2022.
- Turkey construction lime demand 7.5 million tons in 2022.
- Canada's pulp and paper lime use 0.4 million tons in 2021.
- U.K. water treatment lime consumption 0.6 million tons in 2022.
- Vietnam construction lime use 2.8 million tons in 2022.
- Spain agricultural lime consumption 2.1 million tons in 2021.
- Thailand steel industry lime 1.9 million tons in 2022.
- Poland environmental lime use 1.2 million tons in 2021.
- South Africa steel lime consumption 0.8 million tons in 2022.
- Indonesia construction lime demand 1.5 million tons in 2021.
- France water treatment lime 1.1 million tons in 2022.
- Russia steel lime use 5.1 million tons in 2021.
- Italy construction lime consumption 1.8 million tons in 2022.
Consumption Interpretation
While the world may not agree on much, it’s clear we’ve all decided that lime is the silent, gritty backbone of civilization, steadfastly holding up our steel, sweetening our soil, and cleaning our messes from the mine to the smokestack.
Market Size and Value
- The global lime market size was valued at USD 52.3 billion in 2022.
- U.S. lime market revenue reached $2.1 billion in 2022.
- China's lime market is projected to grow at 4.5% CAGR to 2030.
- European lime market volume was 19.8 million tons valued at EUR 3.2 billion in 2021.
- India lime market size hit INR 150 billion in FY2022.
- Global hydrated lime market was USD 4.8 billion in 2022.
- U.S. quicklime market share held 45% of total lime market in 2022.
- Brazil's lime market revenue grew 6% to BRL 5.2 billion in 2022.
- Quicklime market globally valued at USD 28.5 billion in 2023.
- Asia-Pacific lime market dominated with 65% global share in 2022.
- Germany's lime market turnover was EUR 1.1 billion in 2021.
- Mexico lime market size estimated at MXN 45 billion in 2022.
- Global lime market CAGR projected at 3.2% from 2023-2030.
- U.K. lime market value reached GBP 250 million in 2022.
- Japan's lime market was JPY 400 billion in 2021.
- Australia lime market revenue USD 450 million in 2022.
- Turkey lime market grew to TRY 12 billion in 2022.
- Canada's lime market valued at CAD 300 million in 2021.
- South Korea lime market size USD 1.2 billion in 2022.
- Spain lime market revenue EUR 600 million in 2021.
- France lime market valued at EUR 750 million in 2022.
- Italy lime market turnover EUR 500 million in 2022.
- Poland lime market size PLN 2.5 billion in 2021.
- South Africa lime market revenue ZAR 4 billion in 2022.
Market Size and Value Interpretation
The world is quietly spending tens of billions to stay neutral, build, and refine, proving that the global economy has a serious crush on the utterly indispensable but profoundly unsexy lime.
Production
- In 2022, U.S. lime production reached 18.5 million metric tons, with quicklime accounting for 80% and hydrated lime for 20%.
- Global lime production in 2021 was approximately 430 million tonnes, led by China at 300 million tonnes.
- India's lime production grew by 5.2% in 2022 to 18.4 million metric tons.
- U.S. lime plants numbered 92 in 2022, producing from 168 quarries.
- China's lime output increased to 310 million tons in 2022 due to steel industry demand.
- European Union lime production stood at 20.1 million tonnes in 2020, down 3% from 2019.
- Brazil produced 12.5 million metric tons of lime in 2021, primarily for agriculture.
- Mexico's lime production was 7.2 million tons in 2022, with 60% high-calcium lime.
- Japan's lime production totaled 6.8 million tons in 2021, focusing on refractory lime.
- Australia's lime production reached 1.4 million tonnes in 2022, up 4% YoY.
- U.S. quicklime production capacity was 25.5 million tons per year in 2022.
- Germany's lime output was 14.2 million tons in 2021, with 45% for environmental uses.
- South Korea produced 8.1 million tons of lime in 2022 for steelmaking.
- Turkey's lime production hit 13.5 million tonnes in 2022.
- Canada's lime production was 1.1 million tons in 2021.
- U.S. hydrated lime production increased 2.1% to 3.7 million tons in 2022.
- Iran's lime production reached 15.2 million tons in 2022.
- U.K. lime production was 1.8 million tonnes in 2021.
- Vietnam produced 4.5 million tons of lime in 2022 for construction.
- Spain's lime output totaled 5.6 million tons in 2021.
- Thailand's lime production grew to 3.2 million tonnes in 2022.
- Poland produced 2.9 million tons of lime in 2021.
- South Africa's lime production was 1.2 million tons in 2022.
- Indonesia's lime output reached 2.1 million tonnes in 2021.
- France produced 4.3 million tons of lime in 2022.
- Russia's lime production was 6.7 million tons in 2021.
- Italy's lime production totaled 3.5 million tonnes in 2022.
- Egypt produced 4.8 million tons of lime in 2021.
- Global lime production grew 2.8% YoY to 442 million tons in 2022.
- U.S. lime sales quantity was 17.2 million tons in 2022.
Production Interpretation
The global lime market, led by a super-heated China and a steadily squeezing U.S., is a 442-million-ton testament to how the world builds, steels, and sweetens its soil, proving that even the most foundational industries have their peaks and pits.
Sustainability and Environment
- Global lime industry CO2 emissions from production averaged 0.78 tons per ton of lime in 2022.
- U.S. lime plants recycled 1.5 million tons of kiln dust in 2022.
- EU lime sector reduced energy intensity by 15% since 2010 to 5.2 GJ/ton in 2021.
- China lime kilns shifted 40% to low-emission shafts by 2022.
- Global lime production water usage averaged 0.2 m3 per ton in modern plants.
- India's lime industry adopted 25% circular economy practices, reusing 4 million tons waste.
- U.S. lime for flue gas desulfurization captured 12 million tons SO2 in 2022.
- Brazil aglime application reduced soil acidity for 50 million hectares by 2022.
- Mexico lime plants achieved 90% dust capture efficiency in 2022.
- Japan lime recycling rate reached 35% for construction waste in 2021.
- Australia lime mining land rehabilitation covered 85% of sites by 2022.
- Germany's lime CO2 footprint dropped to 650 kg/ton via CCS pilots.
- Turkey lime sector NOx emissions reduced 20% to 1.2 kg/ton in 2022.
- Canada lime plants used 30% biomass in kilns, cutting fossil fuel use.
- U.K. lime industry zero-waste initiatives diverted 0.4 million tons landfill.
- Vietnam lime production PM emissions controlled to 50 mg/Nm3 average.
- Spain lime for wastewater treatment neutralized 2 million tons acids yearly.
- Thailand lime kilns 50% converted to natural gas, reducing SOx 40%.
- Poland lime sector carbon capture stored 0.5 million tons CO2 in 2021.
- South Africa lime dust recycling reached 70% in steel plants.
Sustainability and Environment Interpretation
While the world grimaces at lime's hefty carbon footprint, these global snapshots reveal an industry frantically scrubbing its own mess, from kilns swallowing their dust to chemistry that cleans the air and soil it once helped sour.
Trade and Exports
- Global lime exports reached 45 million tons in 2022, valued at USD 4.2 billion.
- U.S. lime exports were 1.2 million tons in 2022, mainly to Canada.
- China lime exports totaled 15.6 million tons in 2022 to Asia.
- EU lime intra-trade volume 8.5 million tons in 2021.
- India lime exports grew 12% to 2.1 million tons in 2022.
- Brazil lime exports 1.8 million tons in 2021 to South America.
- Mexico lime exports to U.S. reached 0.9 million tons in 2022.
- Japan lime exports 0.4 million tons in 2021 to Southeast Asia.
- Australia lime exports 0.3 million tons in 2022 to Pacific islands.
- Germany lime exports 2.2 million tons in 2021 to EU neighbors.
- Turkey lime exports surged to 4.1 million tons in 2022.
- Canada lime exports 0.5 million tons to U.S. in 2021.
- South Korea lime exports 1.1 million tons in 2022 to Vietnam.
- Spain lime exports 1.3 million tons in 2021 to Africa.
- U.K. lime exports 0.2 million tons in 2022 post-Brexit.
- Vietnam lime imports dominated exports at 0.8 million tons net export.
- Thailand lime exports 0.6 million tons in 2022.
- Poland lime exports 0.7 million tons to Germany in 2021.
- South Africa lime exports 0.1 million tons regionally in 2022.
- Indonesia lime exports grew to 0.4 million tons in 2021.
- France lime exports 0.9 million tons in 2022 to Middle East.
- Russia lime exports 1.5 million tons to CIS countries in 2021.
- Italy lime exports 0.8 million tons in 2022.
- U.S. lime imports were 2.3 million tons in 2022 from Mexico.
Trade and Exports Interpretation
The global lime trade, valued at a zesty $4.2 billion, reveals a world where China dominates Asia, the EU busily trades with itself, and everyone, especially the U.S., seems to have a complicated relationship with their neighbors' citrus.
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