Middle East: Lime Market 2024

Lime Market Size in the Middle East

In 2021, the Middle Eastern lime market was finally on the rise to reach $X after two years of decline. Over the period under review, consumption recorded a relatively flat trend pattern. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2018 with an increase of 9.6% against the previous year. As a result, consumption attained the peak level of $X. From 2019 to 2021, the growth of the market failed to regain momentum.

Lime Production in the Middle East

In value terms, lime production reached $X in 2021 estimated in export price. Overall, production showed a relatively flat trend pattern. The growth pace was the most rapid in 2018 with an increase of 11% against the previous year. As a result, production attained the peak level of $X. From 2019 to 2021, production growth remained at a somewhat lower figure.

Lime Exports

Exports in the Middle East

In 2021, exports of quicklime, slaked lime and hydraulic lime in the Middle East soared to X tons, jumping by 34% compared with 2020. Total exports indicated resilient growth from 2012 to 2021: its volume increased at an average annual rate of +7.1% over the last nine-year period. The trend pattern, however, indicated some noticeable fluctuations being recorded throughout the analyzed period. Based on 2021 figures, exports increased by +114.5% against 2017 indices. The pace of growth was the most pronounced in 2019 with an increase of 55%. The volume of export peaked in 2021 and is likely to see steady growth in years to come.

In value terms, lime exports skyrocketed to $X in 2021. Total exports indicated a resilient expansion from 2012 to 2021: its value increased at an average annual rate of +7.2% over the last nine-year period. The trend pattern, however, indicated some noticeable fluctuations being recorded throughout the analyzed period. Based on 2021 figures, exports increased by +115.8% against 2017 indices. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2016 with an increase of 51%. The level of export peaked in 2021 and is expected to retain growth in the near future.

Exports by Country

The biggest shipments were from the United Arab Emirates (X tons), Oman (X tons) and Turkey (X tons), together resulting at 84% of total export. It was distantly followed by Saudi Arabia (X tons), making up a 10% share of total exports. Iran (X tons) took a minor share 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 Oman (with a CAGR of +42.3%), while the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

In value terms, Oman ($X), the United Arab Emirates ($X) and Turkey ($X) were the countries with the highest levels of exports in 2021, together comprising 82% of total exports.

In terms of the main exporting countries, Oman, with a CAGR of +41.2%, saw 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

In 2021, the export price in the Middle East amounted to $X per ton, declining by -2.7% against the previous year. In general, the export price, however, recorded a relatively flat trend pattern. The pace of growth was the most pronounced in 2016 an increase of 24% against the previous year. As a result, the export price reached the peak level of $X per ton. From 2017 to 2021, the export prices remained at a somewhat lower figure.

Prices varied noticeably country of origin: the country with the highest price was Iran ($X per ton), while the United Arab Emirates ($X per ton) was amongst the lowest.

From 2012 to 2021, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was attained by Iran (+4.7%), while the other leaders experienced a decline in the export price figures.

Lime Imports

Imports in the Middle East

In 2021, after two years of decline, there was significant growth in overseas purchases of quicklime, slaked lime and hydraulic lime, when their volume increased by 24% to X tons. Overall, imports enjoyed a strong expansion. The pace of growth appeared the most rapid in 2015 when imports increased by 49%. Over the period under review, imports reached the peak figure in 2021 and are likely to continue growth in the near future.

In value terms, lime imports surged to $X in 2021. Total imports indicated a resilient increase from 2012 to 2021: its value increased at an average annual rate of +10.7% over the last nine-year period. The trend pattern, however, indicated some noticeable fluctuations being recorded throughout the analyzed period. Based on 2021 figures, imports decreased by -2.4% against 2019 indices. The growth pace was the most rapid in 2013 when imports increased by 35% against the previous year. Over the period under review, imports reached the maximum at $X in 2019; however, from 2020 to 2021, imports failed to regain momentum.

Imports by Country

Oman was the major importer of quicklime, slaked lime and hydraulic lime in the Middle East, with the volume of imports reaching X tons, which was near 52% of total imports in 2021. Bahrain (X tons) ranks second in terms of the total imports with a 20% share, followed by Israel (5.8%) and Palestine (5.6%). Jordan (X tons), Iraq (X tons), Qatar (X tons) and the United Arab Emirates (X tons) took a relatively small share of total imports.

Oman was also the fastest-growing in terms of the quicklime, slaked lime and hydraulic lime imports, with a CAGR of +49.0% from 2012 to 2021. At the same time, Qatar (+31.5%), Bahrain (+31.1%), Iraq (+17.7%), Jordan (+12.9%) and Israel (+9.9%) displayed positive paces of growth. Palestine experienced a relatively flat trend pattern. By contrast, the United Arab Emirates (-14.2%) illustrated a downward trend over the same period. From 2012 to 2021, the share of Oman, Bahrain and Qatar increased by +47, +13 and +1.7 percentage points, respectively. The shares of the other countries remained relatively stable throughout the analyzed period.

In value terms, the largest lime importing markets in the Middle East were Oman ($X), Bahrain ($X) and Israel ($X), with a combined 71% share of total imports.

Among the main importing countries, Oman, with a CAGR of +39.1%, recorded the highest growth rate of the value of imports, 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 Middle East stood at $X per ton in 2021, reducing by -5% against the previous year. Overall, the import price saw a perceptible setback. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2019 an increase of 8.4%. Over the period under review, import prices attained the peak figure at $X per ton in 2012; however, from 2013 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 the United Arab Emirates ($X per ton), while Iraq ($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 United Arab Emirates (+6.1%), while the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

Source: IndexBox Platform

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