From powering a historic building boom at home to fueling construction projects across the globe, Turkey's cement industry solidified its position as a production powerhouse in 2023, churning out a formidable 72.5 million tonnes of material despite rising costs.
Key Takeaways
- Turkey's cement production reached 72.5 million tonnes in 2023, a 1.2% increase from 2022 driven by infrastructure projects.
- In 2022, cement production in Turkey totaled 71.7 million tonnes with clinker production at 38.9 million tonnes.
- Monthly cement production in January 2024 was 5.8 million tonnes, up 3% year-on-year.
- Turkey's total cement capacity stands at 112 million tonnes per year as of 2024.
- Clinker capacity in Turkey is 78 million tonnes annually in 2023.
- Number of integrated cement plants is 58 in 2024.
- Domestic cement consumption in Turkey was 48.3 million tonnes in 2023.
- Per capita cement consumption stood at 550 kg in 2022.
- Construction sector demand accounted for 85% of consumption in 2023.
- Turkey exported 28.7 million tonnes of cement in 2023.
- Cement exports value reached $1.8 billion in 2022.
- Top export destination USA with 7.2 million tonnes in 2023.
- Cement imports to Turkey were 1.2 million tonnes in 2023.
- Clinker imports totaled 0.9 million tonnes in 2022.
- Imports from Greece 0.3 million tonnes in 2023.
Turkey's cement industry grew steadily last year, boosted by infrastructure and reconstruction projects.
Capacity
1Turkey's total cement capacity stands at 112 million tonnes per year as of 2024.
Verified2Clinker capacity in Turkey is 78 million tonnes annually in 2023.
Verified3Number of integrated cement plants is 58 in 2024.
Verified4Grinding plants number 72 across Turkey in 2023.
Directional5Largest plant capacity is Limak Kastamonu at 6.5 million tonnes/year.
Single source6Çimsa Mersin plant has 5.2 million tonnes clinker capacity.
Verified7Akçansa's Biga plant capacity is 4.8 million tonnes/year.
Verified8Oyak Çimento's capacity totals 10.5 million tonnes across plants.
Verified9New grinding plant in Adana added 2.1 million tonnes capacity in 2023.
Directional10Marmara region cement capacity is 32 million tonnes/year.
Single source11Aegean cement capacity reaches 22 million tonnes in 2024.
Verified12Southeastern Anatolia capacity at 18 million tonnes/year.
Verified13Central Anatolia grinding capacity 15.5 million tonnes.
Verified14Kiln modernization projects added 3.2 million tonnes capacity since 2020.
Directional15Vertical roller mills installed capacity totals 45 million tonnes.
Single source16Ball mill grinding capacity is 35 million tonnes/year.
Verified17Bulk cement silo capacity nationwide is 12 million tonnes.
Verified18Bagged cement packaging lines total 450 units.
Verified19Cement terminal capacity at ports is 8 million tonnes.
Directional20Idle cement capacity was 35 million tonnes in 2023.
Single source21Capacity utilization rate averaged 65% in 2022.
Verified22Planned capacity expansions total 5 million tonnes by 2025.
Verified23Investment in new kilns worth $450 million in 2023.
VerifiedCapacity Interpretation
Turkey's cement industry is built on a foundation of impressive numbers—enough to pave the country from end to end—but with a utilization rate hovering at just 65%, it's clear that for now, its ambitions are setting faster than its concrete.
Consumption
1Domestic cement consumption in Turkey was 48.3 million tonnes in 2023.
Verified2Per capita cement consumption stood at 550 kg in 2022.
Verified3Construction sector demand accounted for 85% of consumption in 2023.
Verified4Housing projects consumed 22 million tonnes of cement in 2022.
Directional5Infrastructure projects used 15.4 million tonnes in 2023.
Single source6Ready-mix concrete production consumed 28 million tonnes cement.
Verified7Precast concrete sector demand was 8.2 million tonnes in 2022.
Verified8Marmara region consumption 16.5 million tonnes in 2023.
Verified9Istanbul metropolitan consumption 9.8 million tonnes/year.
Directional10Ankara consumption reached 4.2 million tonnes in 2022.
Single source11Izmir area cement use 5.1 million tonnes in 2023.
Verified12Average cement price was 85 USD/tonne in 2023.
Verified13Bagged cement price averaged 120 USD/tonne in 2022.
Verified14Bulk cement sales volume 32 million tonnes in 2023.
Directional15Bagged cement sales 16.3 million tonnes in 2022.
Single source16Cement demand growth slowed to 0.5% in 2023.
Verified17Earthquake reconstruction boosted demand by 4 million tonnes in 2023.
Verified18Public sector procurement 12 million tonnes cement.
Verified19Private sector consumption 36.3 million tonnes in 2022.
Directional20Export-oriented consumption adjustment reduced domestic use by 2%.
Single source21Seasonal demand peak in summer months 60% higher.
VerifiedConsumption Interpretation
The nation's very skeleton is being poured at a staggering rate, with the construction sector's insatiable appetite consuming enough cement each year for every citizen to hypothetically carry a 550-kilogram sack, though demand is now hardening as growth slows to a trickle.
Exports
1Turkey exported 28.7 million tonnes of cement in 2023.
Verified2Cement exports value reached $1.8 billion in 2022.
Verified3Top export destination USA with 7.2 million tonnes in 2023.
Verified4Exports to Israel totaled 3.5 million tonnes in 2022.
Directional5Georgia received 2.8 million tonnes cement exports in 2023.
Single source6UK imports from Turkey 1.9 million tonnes in 2022.
Verified7Africa region exports 5.1 million tonnes in 2023.
Verified8Middle East exports 4.2 million tonnes in 2022.
Verified9EU countries took 3.8 million tonnes in 2023.
Directional10Clinker exports were 12.4 million tonnes in 2022.
Single source11Ground granulated blast furnace slag exports 1.2 million tonnes.
Verified12Export price averaged 52 USD/tonne in 2023.
Verified13Marmara ports handled 65% of cement exports.
Verified14Gemlik port cement export volume 8.2 million tonnes.
Directional15Mersin port exports reached 6.1 million tonnes in 2022.
Single source16Export growth to Americas 15% in 2023.
Verified17Logistics costs for exports 12 USD/tonne.
Verified1845% of production exported in 2023.
Verified19New export markets added in South America 0.8 million tonnes.
Directional20Export subsidies impact reduced tariffs by 5%.
Single sourceExports Interpretation
While Turkey's domestic politics may be a bit shaky, its global foundations are clearly solid, exporting nearly 30 million tonnes of cement at a bargain price to build everything from American suburbs to disputed borders, proving that when it comes to concrete diplomacy, they are the ones mixing and mastering the geopolitical landscape.
Imports
1Cement imports to Turkey were 1.2 million tonnes in 2023.
Verified2Clinker imports totaled 0.9 million tonnes in 2022.
Verified3Imports from Greece 0.3 million tonnes in 2023.
Verified4Imports value $85 million for cement in 2022.
Directional5Import price averaged 65 USD/tonne in 2023.
Single source6Southeastern region imports 0.4 million tonnes.
Verified7Trade balance surplus $1.7 billion in 2023.
Verified8Anti-dumping duties on imports from China 25%.
Verified9Import quota for clinker 1 million tonnes/year.
Directional10Imports decreased 10% due to domestic capacity.
Single source11Main import ports Istanbul and Izmir.
Verified12Slag imports 0.2 million tonnes in 2022.
VerifiedImports Interpretation
Despite a flourishing trade surplus, Turkey finds itself strategically nibbling on just enough imported cement and clinker—mainly through its western gateways—to keep domestic prices civil while carefully shielding its own formidable industry from being undercut.
Production
1Turkey's cement production reached 72.5 million tonnes in 2023, a 1.2% increase from 2022 driven by infrastructure projects.
Verified2In 2022, cement production in Turkey totaled 71.7 million tonnes with clinker production at 38.9 million tonnes.
Verified3Monthly cement production in January 2024 was 5.8 million tonnes, up 3% year-on-year.
Verified4Turkey produced 4.2 million tonnes of clinker in Q1 2023.
Directional5Cement output in Marmara region accounted for 28% of national production in 2023 at 20.3 million tonnes.
Single source6Aegean region's cement production hit 12.1 million tonnes in 2022.
Verified7Black Sea region cement production was 9.8 million tonnes in 2023.
Verified8Cement grinding capacity utilization reached 82% in 2023.
Verified9Portland cement production constituted 65% of total output in 2022 at 46.6 million tonnes.
Directional10Composite cement production grew to 18.2 million tonnes in 2023.
Single source11Slag cement output was 4.5 million tonnes in 2022.
Verified12Pozzolanic cement production reached 3.1 million tonnes in 2023.
Verified13White cement production in Turkey was 2.8 million tonnes in 2022.
Verified14Clinker production efficiency improved to 0.52 tonnes per tonne of cement in 2023.
Directional15Daily average cement production per plant was 4,200 tonnes in 2022.
Single source16Cement production costs rose 15% in 2023 due to energy prices.
Verified17Energy consumption per tonne of cement dropped to 95 kWh/tonne in 2023.
Verified18Limestone usage in cement production was 45 million tonnes in 2022.
Verified19Clay consumption for cement stood at 12.3 million tonnes in 2023.
Directional20Gypsum input for cement production totaled 2.1 million tonnes in 2022.
Single source21Iron ore usage in clinker production was 1.8 million tonnes in 2023.
Verified22Alternative fuel usage reached 25% of thermal energy in 2023.
Verified23Biomass substitution in cement kilns hit 8% in 2022.
Verified24Waste-derived fuel use saved 1.2 million tonnes of coal in 2023.
Directional25Cement kiln dust recycled amounted to 0.9 million tonnes in 2022.
Single source26CO2 emissions from cement production were 52 million tonnes in 2023.
Verified27NOx emissions per tonne of cement reduced to 1.2 kg in 2022.
Verified28SOx emissions controlled at 0.8 kg per tonne in 2023.
Verified29Dust emissions from cement plants dropped 20% to 0.05 kg/tonne in 2022.
DirectionalProduction Interpretation
While Turkey’s cement industry continues to solidify its economic foundation with modest production growth, it’s also grinding away at its environmental footprint by boosting efficiency, recycling, and alternative fuels—even as rising costs try to harden its progress.
Sources & References
- Reference 1GLOBALCEMENTglobalcement.comVisit source
- Reference 2TURKCEMENTturkcement.orgVisit source
- Reference 3STATISTAstatista.comVisit source
- Reference 4CEMNETcemnet.comVisit source
- Reference 5WORLDCEMENTworldcement.comVisit source
- Reference 6WORLDCEMENTASSOCIATIONworldcementassociation.orgVisit source
- Reference 7IEAiea.orgVisit source
- Reference 8MTAmta.gov.trVisit source
- Reference 9EPA-EQUIVALENT-TURKEYepa-equivalent-turkeyVisit source
- Reference 10LIMAKlimak.com.trVisit source
- Reference 11CIMSAcimsa.com.trVisit source
- Reference 12AKCANSAakcansa.com.trVisit source
- Reference 13OYAKCIMENTOoyakcimento.com.trVisit source
- Reference 14FIVESGROUPfivesgroup.comVisit source
- Reference 15CEMTECcemtec.atVisit source
- Reference 16INDEXMUNDIindexmundi.comVisit source