Quicklime market in Poland

Earlier Report Observations

The Polish quicklime market underwent a notable transformation between 2018 and 2024. In physical terms, market volume contracted from 1 409 тыс. т to 924 тыс. т, a decrease of over 34%. In contrast, the market's value nearly doubled from $101.1 млн to $179.7 млн, highlighting a significant rise in prices or a shift toward higher-value product segments.

Market movements were volatile. A rebound in volume to 1 396 тыс. т in 2021 coincided with the material's important role in soil stabilization for infrastructure and construction projects. Earlier, the European Union's formal approval of quicklime as an active substance in biocidal products in 2019 established a regulatory basis for its use in specialized applications. Major producers like Zakłady Wapiennicze Lhoist S.A. continued operations, supported by stable domestic limestone extraction from dozens of active quarries.

The sharp volume decline to 887 тыс. т in 2023, followed by a modest recovery in 2024, occurred while market value remained elevated. This underscores that price dynamics and product mix changes defined the latter part of the period. Production maintained compliance with quality standard PN-EN 459-1:2012, ensuring suitability for core uses in agriculture, construction, and industrial processes.

Production quicklime in Poland

In value, 2017-2020, M $ US

Poland's quicklime production experienced a decline after two years of growth. In 2020, the output was valued at 124.3 million US dollars, marking a slight decrease of 1.4% compared to the previous year. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, production increased by 27.9%, with an average annual growth rate of 8.5%. The peak value was recorded in 2019 at 126.0 million US dollars, which also saw the largest annual increase of 23.1%.

Annual dynamics of production in Poland in value, 2017-2020, M $ US

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

Poland's quicklime production declined for the third consecutive year. In 2020, the country produced 1 186 thousand tonnes, representing an 8.1% drop from the previous year. Between 2017 and 2020, overall production decreased by 17.2%, translating to an average annual decline of 6.1%.

Annual dynamics of production in Poland in kind, 2017-2020, K t

Exports quicklime from Poland

Exports in kind, K t

Poland's quicklime export volume fell for the second year in a row. In 2020, exports amounted to 88.8 thousand tonnes, showing a sharp decline of 26.4% compared to 2019. From 2017 to 2020, exports decreased by 37.8%, with an average annual reduction of 14.6%. The highest volume was recorded in 2018 at 157.3 thousand tonnes, which also experienced the largest annual increase of 10.2%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Poland in kind, 2017-2020, K t

Between 2017 and 2020, Lithuania, Slovakia, and Ukraine remained the top buyers of quicklime from Poland, accounting for 39.2%, 34.0%, and 9.9% of exports in kind, respectively. Together, these three countries absorbed 83.1% of Poland's total quicklime exports by volume.

Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's exports from Poland in kind, 2017-2020

Exports in value, K $ US

Quicklime exports from Poland declined for the second consecutive year. In 2020, Poland exported 8 878 thousand US dollars worth of quicklime, reflecting a sharp drop of 31.0% from 2019. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, exports decreased by 42.9%, equating to an average annual decline of 17.1%. The peak value was recorded in 2018 at 16 902 thousand US dollars, which also saw the largest annual increase of 8.6%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Poland in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

From 2017 to 2020, Slovakia, Lithuania, and Finland were the three main markets for Poland's quicklime exports in value terms, collectively accounting for 74.5% of total export revenues.

Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's exports from Poland in value, 2017-2020

Imports quicklime to Poland

Imports in kind, K t

In 2020, Poland's quicklime import volume reached 155.5 thousand tonnes, showing a robust increase of 14.1% compared to 2019. Between 2017 and 2020, imports grew by 23%, with an average annual rate of 7.1%. The highest volume was recorded in 2018 at 177.0 thousand tonnes. The largest annual decline occurred in 2019 at 23.0%, while the largest increase was in 2018 at 40.0%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Poland in kind, 2017-2020, K t

During the period from 2017 to 2020, Czechia, Germany, and Belarus were the primary sources of quicklime imports to Poland, together accounting for 96.0% of total imports by volume.

Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's imports to Poland in kind, 2017-2020

Imports in value, K $ US

Poland imported 13 091 thousand US dollars worth of quicklime in 2020, indicating a moderate increase of 8.7% from 2019. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, imports rose by 33.3%, with an average annual growth rate of 10.0%. The peak value was recorded in 2018 at 15 565 thousand US dollars. The largest annual decline was in 2019 at 22.7%, while the largest increase occurred in 2018 at 58.4%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Poland in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

From 2017 to 2020, Czechia, Germany, and Belarus consistently remained the main sources of quicklime imports to Poland in value terms, accounting for 55.6%, 21.7%, and 15.9% of imports, respectively. Together, these three countries represented 93.2% of total import value.

Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's imports to Poland in value, 2017-2020