Global lime production 2023, by country

The three leading lime producing countries in the world in 2023 were China, the United States, and India, with production volumes of 310 million metric tons, 17 million metric tons, and 16 million metric tons, respectively.

What is lime?

Lime is a mineral that is made up of oxides and hydroxide. It is inorganic and encompasses calcium. The most common use of lime is for steel manufacturing, where it is used to remove impurities. It is also used to treat wastewater with ferrous sulfate. Everyday household items such as glass, lawn neutralizers, leather, paint, toothpaste, and many more items also contain lime. In 2023, the world's total production of lime was estimated at 430 million metric tons.

U.S. lime industry

Lime production in the United States has remained relatively steady since 2012. In recent years, the U.S. produced an estimated 17 million metric tons of this mineral. Lime consumption in the North American country has also remained somewhat stable over the last decade, with an estimated consumption volume of 17 million metric tons in 2023.