Quicklime market in Slovakia

Earlier Report Observations

The Slovak quicklime market saw its volume decline from 485 thousand tonnes in 2018 to 427 thousand tonnes in 2020. This contraction coincided with the implementation of stricter environmental regulations targeting dioxin emissions from lime production and co-incineration processes, which prompted operational changes across the industry.

A strong recovery followed in 2021, lifting market volume to 555 thousand tonnes. Subsequent years, however, brought a gradual reduction, with the market settling at 476 thousand tonnes by 2024. This later period was marked by a series of legislative updates, including new tax and accounting rules, revised environmental decrees, and changes to labor costs, all of which added to the operational complexity for lime producers.

The state-owned enterprise Duslo, a.s. maintained its role as a major player in the chemical sector throughout the period, contributing to the market's structure and production capacity for quicklime.

Production quicklime in Slovakia

In value, 2017-2020, K $ US

Slovakia's quicklime production declined for the second year in a row. In 2020, output was valued at 47 997 thousand US dollars, marking a 12.7% year-over-year decrease. Production fell by 18.2% between 2017 and 2020, which translates to an annualized decline of 6.5%. The highest value was recorded in 2018 at 64 113 thousand US dollars. The largest annual increase occurred in 2018 at 9.2%, while the steepest drop was in 2019 at 14.2%.

Annual dynamics of production in Slovakia in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

Slovakia's quicklime production volume fell for the second consecutive year. In 2020, the country produced 506.5 thousand tonnes, representing a significant 10.1% decrease compared to the previous year. From 2017 to 2020, production dropped by 13.3%, averaging an annual decline of 4.6%. The peak was in 2018 with 595.7 thousand tonnes, which also saw the largest annual increase at 2.0%.

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

Exports quicklime from Slovakia

Exports in kind, K t

Following two years of growth, Slovakia's quicklime export volume declined. In 2020, exports totaled 140.7 thousand tonnes, a substantial 19.2% decrease from the previous year. Between 2017 and 2020, exports rose by 3.5%, with an annualized growth rate of 1.1%. The highest volume was recorded in 2019 at 174.2 thousand tonnes, which also experienced the largest annual increase of 18.5%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, Czechia, Hungary, and Poland were the main buyers of Slovak quicklime by volume. Czechia accounted for 39.6% of exports, Hungary for 33.4%, and Poland for 13.5%. Together, these three countries represented 86.6% of Slovakia's total quicklime exports in kind.

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

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

Exports in value, K $ US

In 2020, Slovakia's quicklime exports were valued at 11 142 thousand US dollars, a robust 17.1% decrease compared to 2019. Over the 2017-2020 period, exports declined by 2.5%, with a compound annual growth rate of -0.8%. The peak value was in 2019 at 13 438 thousand US dollars, which also saw the largest annual increase of 18.6%.

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

Between 2017 and 2020, Hungary, Czechia, and Serbia were the primary buyers of Slovak quicklime by value. Hungary accounted for 33.4% of exports, Czechia for 28.2%, and Serbia for 13.7%. Collectively, these three markets made up 75.2% of Slovakia's total quicklime export value.

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

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

Imports quicklime to Slovakia

Imports in kind, K t

Slovakia's quicklime imports increased for the second consecutive year. In 2020, imports reached 61.6 thousand tonnes, up by 45.3% from the previous year. From 2017 to 2020, imports grew by 4.1%, averaging an annual increase of 1.3%. The lowest volume was in 2018 at 36.1 thousand tonnes, which also experienced the largest annual decline of 38.9%.

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

Throughout 2017-2020, Italy, Czechia, and Austria were the main sources of quicklime imports to Slovakia by volume. Italy accounted for 43.4% of imports, Czechia for 21.6%, and Austria for 18.2%. Together, these three countries supplied 83.2% of Slovakia's total quicklime imports in kind.

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

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

Imports in value, K $ US

The market showed volatility during this period. Imports reached their lowest point in 2018 and peaked in 2020, with a 2.3-fold difference between these years. In 2020, Slovakia's quicklime imports were valued at 6 335 thousand US dollars, an 83.3% increase year-over-year. The minimum value was in 2018 at 2 791 thousand US dollars, which also saw the largest annual decline of 46.5%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, Italy, Czechia, and Austria were the leading sources of quicklime imports to Slovakia by value. Italy accounted for 34.7% of imports, Czechia for 26.4%, and Austria for 18.2%. Combined, these three countries represented 79.3% of Slovakia's total quicklime import value.

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

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