EU: Lime Market 2025

Lime Market Size in the EU

The EU lime market reached $X in 2021, picking up by 5.2% against the previous year. In general, consumption showed a perceptible downturn. The level of consumption peaked at $X in 2012; however, from 2013 to 2021, consumption remained at a lower figure.

Lime Production in the EU

In value terms, lime production soared to $X in 2021 estimated in export price. Overall, production recorded a relatively flat trend pattern. The level of production peaked at $X in 2013; however, from 2014 to 2021, production stood at a somewhat lower figure.

Lime Exports

Exports in the EU

In 2021, shipments abroad of quicklime, slaked lime and hydraulic lime was finally on the rise to reach X tons for the first time since 2018, thus ending a two-year declining trend. The total export volume increased at an average annual rate of +2.1% from 2012 to 2021; the trend pattern remained relatively stable, with only minor fluctuations being observed throughout the analyzed period. The pace of growth appeared the most rapid in 2018 when exports increased by 13% against the previous year. As a result, the exports attained the peak of X tons. From 2019 to 2021, the growth of the exports remained at a lower figure.

In value terms, lime exports expanded sharply to $X in 2021. The total export value increased at an average annual rate of +1.4% over the period from 2012 to 2021; the trend pattern remained consistent, with only minor fluctuations being recorded throughout the analyzed period. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2018 when exports increased by 15%. Over the period under review, the exports reached the peak figure in 2021 and are expected to retain growth in the immediate term.

Exports by Country

Germany (X tons) and France (X tons) represented the main exporters of quicklime, slaked lime and hydraulic lime in 2021, recording approx. 22% and 22% of total exports, respectively. Belgium (X tons) held a 13% share (based on physical terms) of total exports, which put it in second place, followed by Spain (6.9%), Italy (5.3%) and Slovakia (5.2%). The following exporters - the Czech Republic (X tons), Croatia (X tons), Finland (X tons), Poland (X tons), Portugal (X tons), Austria (X tons) and Sweden (X tons) - together made up 22% of total exports.

From 2012 to 2021, the most notable rate of growth in terms of shipments, amongst the leading exporting countries, was attained by Portugal (with a CAGR of +20.0%), while the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

In value terms, the largest lime supplying countries in the European Union were France ($X), Germany ($X) and Belgium ($X), together accounting for 60% of total exports. Spain, Italy, Finland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland, Portugal, Croatia, Austria and Sweden lagged somewhat behind, together accounting for a further 35%.

In terms of the main exporting countries, Portugal, with a CAGR of +18.8%, recorded the highest growth rate of the value of exports, over the period under review, while shipments for the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

Export Prices by Country

The export price in the European Union stood at $X per ton in 2021, surging by 8.9% against the previous year. Overall, the export price, however, showed a relatively flat trend pattern. Over the period under review, the export prices attained the maximum at $X per ton in 2013; however, from 2014 to 2021, the export prices stood at a somewhat lower figure.

Prices varied noticeably country of origin: the country with the highest price was Finland ($X per ton), while Slovakia ($X per ton) was amongst the lowest.

From 2012 to 2021, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was attained by Croatia (+1.1%), while the other leaders experienced mixed trends in the export price figures.

Lime Imports

Imports in the EU

In 2021, imports of quicklime, slaked lime and hydraulic lime in the European Union skyrocketed to X tons, with an increase of 17% against 2020 figures. Overall, imports showed a modest increase. The volume of import peaked at X tons in 2014; afterwards, it flattened through to 2021.

In value terms, lime imports surged to $X in 2021. In general, imports recorded a relatively flat trend pattern. The level of import peaked at $X in 2014; however, from 2015 to 2021, imports stood at a somewhat lower figure.

Imports by Country

The countries with the highest levels of lime imports in 2021 were the Netherlands (X tons), France (X tons), Germany (X tons) and Finland (X tons), together accounting for 60% of total import. Sweden (X tons) ranks next in terms of the total imports with a 7% share, followed by Belgium (5.9%) and Poland (5.1%). The following importers - the Czech Republic (X tons), Hungary (X tons), Slovakia (X tons), Lithuania (X tons), Spain (X tons) and Austria (X tons) - together made up 15% of total imports.

From 2012 to 2021, the biggest increases were recorded for Spain (with a CAGR of +20.7%), while purchases for the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

In value terms, the largest lime importing markets in the European Union were the Netherlands ($X), Finland ($X) and Germany ($X), with a combined 51% share of total imports. France, Sweden, Belgium, Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Spain, Lithuania and Austria lagged somewhat behind, together comprising a further 42%.

Spain, with a CAGR of +15.9%, recorded the highest rates of growth with regard to the value of imports, in terms of the main importing countries over the period under review, while purchases for the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

Import Prices by Country

The import price in the European Union stood at $X per ton in 2021, growing by 8.2% against the previous year. Over the period under review, the import price, however, recorded a relatively flat trend pattern. Over the period under review, import prices reached the maximum at $X per ton in 2013; however, from 2014 to 2021, import prices failed to regain momentum.

There were significant differences in the average prices amongst the major importing countries. In 2021, the country with the highest price was Finland ($X per ton), while Lithuania ($X per ton) was amongst the lowest.

From 2012 to 2021, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was attained by the Netherlands (+3.5%), while the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

Source: IndexBox Platform

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