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
- 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.
- Grinding plants number 72 across Turkey in 2023.
- Largest plant capacity is Limak Kastamonu at 6.5 million tonnes/year.
- Çimsa Mersin plant has 5.2 million tonnes clinker capacity.
- Akçansa's Biga plant capacity is 4.8 million tonnes/year.
- Oyak Çimento's capacity totals 10.5 million tonnes across plants.
- New grinding plant in Adana added 2.1 million tonnes capacity in 2023.
- Marmara region cement capacity is 32 million tonnes/year.
- Aegean cement capacity reaches 22 million tonnes in 2024.
- Southeastern Anatolia capacity at 18 million tonnes/year.
- Central Anatolia grinding capacity 15.5 million tonnes.
- Kiln modernization projects added 3.2 million tonnes capacity since 2020.
- Vertical roller mills installed capacity totals 45 million tonnes.
- Ball mill grinding capacity is 35 million tonnes/year.
- Bulk cement silo capacity nationwide is 12 million tonnes.
- Bagged cement packaging lines total 450 units.
- Cement terminal capacity at ports is 8 million tonnes.
- Idle cement capacity was 35 million tonnes in 2023.
- Capacity utilization rate averaged 65% in 2022.
- Planned capacity expansions total 5 million tonnes by 2025.
- Investment in new kilns worth $450 million in 2023.
Capacity 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
- 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.
- Housing projects consumed 22 million tonnes of cement in 2022.
- Infrastructure projects used 15.4 million tonnes in 2023.
- Ready-mix concrete production consumed 28 million tonnes cement.
- Precast concrete sector demand was 8.2 million tonnes in 2022.
- Marmara region consumption 16.5 million tonnes in 2023.
- Istanbul metropolitan consumption 9.8 million tonnes/year.
- Ankara consumption reached 4.2 million tonnes in 2022.
- Izmir area cement use 5.1 million tonnes in 2023.
- Average cement price was 85 USD/tonne in 2023.
- Bagged cement price averaged 120 USD/tonne in 2022.
- Bulk cement sales volume 32 million tonnes in 2023.
- Bagged cement sales 16.3 million tonnes in 2022.
- Cement demand growth slowed to 0.5% in 2023.
- Earthquake reconstruction boosted demand by 4 million tonnes in 2023.
- Public sector procurement 12 million tonnes cement.
- Private sector consumption 36.3 million tonnes in 2022.
- Export-oriented consumption adjustment reduced domestic use by 2%.
- Seasonal demand peak in summer months 60% higher.
Consumption 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
- 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.
- Exports to Israel totaled 3.5 million tonnes in 2022.
- Georgia received 2.8 million tonnes cement exports in 2023.
- UK imports from Turkey 1.9 million tonnes in 2022.
- Africa region exports 5.1 million tonnes in 2023.
- Middle East exports 4.2 million tonnes in 2022.
- EU countries took 3.8 million tonnes in 2023.
- Clinker exports were 12.4 million tonnes in 2022.
- Ground granulated blast furnace slag exports 1.2 million tonnes.
- Export price averaged 52 USD/tonne in 2023.
- Marmara ports handled 65% of cement exports.
- Gemlik port cement export volume 8.2 million tonnes.
- Mersin port exports reached 6.1 million tonnes in 2022.
- Export growth to Americas 15% in 2023.
- Logistics costs for exports 12 USD/tonne.
- 45% of production exported in 2023.
- New export markets added in South America 0.8 million tonnes.
- Export subsidies impact reduced tariffs by 5%.
Exports 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
- 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.
- Imports value $85 million for cement in 2022.
- Import price averaged 65 USD/tonne in 2023.
- Southeastern region imports 0.4 million tonnes.
- Trade balance surplus $1.7 billion in 2023.
- Anti-dumping duties on imports from China 25%.
- Import quota for clinker 1 million tonnes/year.
- Imports decreased 10% due to domestic capacity.
- Main import ports Istanbul and Izmir.
- Slag imports 0.2 million tonnes in 2022.
Imports 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
- 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 produced 4.2 million tonnes of clinker in Q1 2023.
- Cement output in Marmara region accounted for 28% of national production in 2023 at 20.3 million tonnes.
- Aegean region's cement production hit 12.1 million tonnes in 2022.
- Black Sea region cement production was 9.8 million tonnes in 2023.
- Cement grinding capacity utilization reached 82% in 2023.
- Portland cement production constituted 65% of total output in 2022 at 46.6 million tonnes.
- Composite cement production grew to 18.2 million tonnes in 2023.
- Slag cement output was 4.5 million tonnes in 2022.
- Pozzolanic cement production reached 3.1 million tonnes in 2023.
- White cement production in Turkey was 2.8 million tonnes in 2022.
- Clinker production efficiency improved to 0.52 tonnes per tonne of cement in 2023.
- Daily average cement production per plant was 4,200 tonnes in 2022.
- Cement production costs rose 15% in 2023 due to energy prices.
- Energy consumption per tonne of cement dropped to 95 kWh/tonne in 2023.
- Limestone usage in cement production was 45 million tonnes in 2022.
- Clay consumption for cement stood at 12.3 million tonnes in 2023.
- Gypsum input for cement production totaled 2.1 million tonnes in 2022.
- Iron ore usage in clinker production was 1.8 million tonnes in 2023.
- Alternative fuel usage reached 25% of thermal energy in 2023.
- Biomass substitution in cement kilns hit 8% in 2022.
- Waste-derived fuel use saved 1.2 million tonnes of coal in 2023.
- Cement kiln dust recycled amounted to 0.9 million tonnes in 2022.
- CO2 emissions from cement production were 52 million tonnes in 2023.
- NOx emissions per tonne of cement reduced to 1.2 kg in 2022.
- SOx emissions controlled at 0.8 kg per tonne in 2023.
- Dust emissions from cement plants dropped 20% to 0.05 kg/tonne in 2022.
Production 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
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