According to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in 2024, an estimated 16 million tons of quicklime and hydrated lime was produced (excluding independent commercial hydrators), valued at about $3.2 billion. Lime was produced by 26 companies – 17 with commercial sales and nine that produced lime strictly for internal use (for example, sugar companies).
These companies had 73 primary lime plants (plants operating quicklime kilns) in 28 states and Puerto Rico. Of the 26 companies, five operated only hydrating plants in nine states. In 2024, the five leading U.S. lime companies produced quicklime or hydrated in 22 states and accounted for about 80% of U.S. lime production.
Principal producing states were Alabama, Missouri, Ohio and Texas. Major markets for lime were, in descending order of consumption, steelmaking, chemical and industrial applications (such as the manufacture of fertilizer, glass, paper and pulp, and precipitated calcium carbonate, and in sugar refining), flue gas treatment, construction, water treatment, and nonferrous-metal mining.
In 2024, domestic lime production was estimated to be unchanged from that in 2023. However, some of the lime producers have increased product pricing owing to increased costs of production.
Several companies were planning to accelerate their decarbonization efforts in the production of lime. In 2024, a total of 73 quicklime plants were in operation along with 10 hydrating plants. Hydrated lime is a dry calcium hydroxide powder made from reacting quicklime with a controlled amount of water in a hydrator. It is used in chemical and industrial, construction and environmental applications.
USGS notes the following import sources: (2020–23): Canada, 82%; Mexico, 13%; and other, 5%.