The Lime and Limestone report primarily covers lime, but also discusses limestone (in the Appendix). In 2014, total lime capacity is estimated at 437 million metric tons, with production and consumption at 384 million metric tons. Capacity utilization is 88%.
Overall consumption is forecast to grow at 4.6% annually during 2014-2019, led by China at 5.6% annually. China has the world’s leading capacity (69%), production (70%) and consumption (70%) in 2014. In developed regions, such as North America, Western Europe, and Japan, production of lime is a mature industry characterized by consolidation among regional producers, each servicing its regional markets. Global production has increased 4-5% per year from 270 million metric tons in 2006 to 285 million metric tons in 2008 and 384 million metric tons in 2014.
The major use for lime is in metallurgy, including steel production, accounting for more than 46% of lime consumption in 2014. About 21% of consumption is for construction uses, primarily for soil stabilization. Environmental uses include flue gas desulfurization, water treatment and waste treatment and account for about 6% of consumption in 2014. The majority of the remaining consumption is for various chemical and industrial uses, such as production of precipitated calcium carbonate (PCC), aluminum oxide, calcium carbide and soda ash; use in pulp and paper, glass, sugar refining and leather tanning; and to neutralize acid soils and add essential nutrients in agriculture. Together, these various uses account for more than one-fourth of lime consumption in 2014. Refractory uses for furnace linings consume very small amounts of lime, mainly in the United States and Europe.
There is relatively very little trade worldwide, primarily because lime is readily available in all parts of the world and transportation costs can account for a significant portion of the product value.
The two largest producers of lime with a worldwide presence are the Lhoist Group and the Carmeuse Group, both headquartered in Belgium. However, there are also local producers with large capacities, serving the local markets in metallurgy, construction, chemicals and agriculture. Some big consumers in these industries have substantial capacities to cover their internal needs.

Summary 7

Introduction 9

Definition 9

Key properties 10

Forms and grades 10

Manufacturing processes 11

Environmental issues 13

Supply and demand by region 14

United States 14

      Producing companies 14

      Salient statistics 19

      Consumption 22

      Metallurgy 29

      Steel production 30

      Ore beneficiation 30

      Environmental applications 30

      Sulfur removal 30

      Water treatment 31

      Sewage and trade waste 31

      Chemical and industrial 32

      Precipitated calcium carbonate 32

      Pulp and paper 33

      Sugar processing 33

      Glass 34

      Calcium carbide 34

      Agriculture 35

      Calcium hypochlorite 36

      Other 37

      Construction 38

      Refractory 39

      Price 39

      Trade 40

Canada 41

      Producing companies 41

      Salient statistics 43

      Production 46

      Consumption 47

      Metallurgical 48

      Environmental 49

      Chemical and industrial 49

      Construction 50

      Price 50

Mexico 50

      Salient statistics 52

      Consumption 53

      Construction 53

      Metallurgical 53

      Chemical and industrial 54

      Environmental 54

      Trade 54

Central and South America 56

      Producing companies 56

      Salient statistics 59

      Production 60

      Consumption 61

      Construction 63

      Metallurgy 63

      Chemical 64

      Water treatment/environmental 64

      Sugar 64

      Citrus pulp pelletizing 64

      Price 64

      Trade 65

      Imports 65

      Exports 66

Western Europe 66

      Producing companies 67

      Production 73

      Consumption 74

      Metallurgy 77

      Building products 77

      Environmental applications 77

      Chemical industry 78

      Soda ash 78

      Magnesia 78

      Calcium carbide 78

      Salt 79

      Propylene oxide 79

      Pulp and paper 79

      Sugar beets 79

      Agriculture 80

      Glass 80

      Leather tanning 80

      Price 80

      Trade 81

Central Europe 83

      Producing companies 83

      Production 85

      Consumption 85

      Trade 87

Commonwealth of Independent States 88

      Producing companies 88

      Production 89

      Consumption 90

      Metallurgy 90

      Building products 90

      Soda ash 90

      Trade 90

Middle East and Africa 93

      Producing companies 93

      Production 94

      Consumption 95

      Trade 95

Japan 96

      Producing companies 96

      Production 98

      Consumption 99

      Metallurgy 103

      Chemicals (and industrial) 103

      Construction 104

      Environmental applications 104

      Air pollution control 104

      Wastewater and water treatment 104

      Agriculture 104

      Other 105

      Price 105

      Trade 106

China 107

      Producing companies 108

      Salient statistics 111

      Consumption 112

      Metallurgy 112

      Chemicals 112

      Building products 113

      Environmental applications 113

      Glass 113

      Agriculture 113

      Other 113

      Price 114

      Trade 114

Other Asia 115

      India 115

      Republic of Korea 116

      Taiwan 117

      Southeast Asia 118

      Vietnam 119

Appendix: Limestone 120

Manufacturing processes 121

Supply and demand by region 121

      United States 121

      Producing companies 121

      Consumption 122

      Canada 123

      Central and South America 124

      Producing companies 124

      Production 124

      Western Europe 126

      Producing companies 126

      Production 131

      Consumption 131

      Central Europe 132

      Commonwealth of Independent States 132

      Middle East and Africa 134

      Japan 135

      Producing companies 135

      Consumption 137

      China 138

      Producing companies 138

      Consumption 139

      Other Asia 140

      India 140

      Republic of Korea 142

      Taiwan 143

      Thailand 144

      Vietnam 145

Bibliography 145

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