Calcium
alkaline earth · Group 2 · Period 4
Atomic properties
Market data
Raw material sources & pricing
| Raw Material Form | Grade/Quality | Price Range | Major Sources | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Limestone (CaCO₃) | 90-98% CaCO₃ | $15-30/MT | China, USA, India, Russia | Must be calcined to CaO for metal production |
| Dolomite (CaCO₃·MgCO₃) | 45-55% CaCO₃ | $20-40/MT | China, USA, Brazil, India | Requires separation of Mg |
| Gypsum (CaSO₄·2H₂O) | 70-80% CaSO₄ | $25-45/MT | China, Iran, Spain, USA | Alternative calcium source |
| Quicklime (CaO) | 90-95% CaO | $100-150/MT | China, USA, Germany, Japan | Ready for metal production |
Limestone (CaCO₃) - Primary Raw Material
Current Market Price: $15-30/MT FOB (varies by purity and location) Major Global Reserves: China: Vast reserves, leading producer United States: Extensive limestone deposits India: Large reserves, growing production Russia: Significant deposits, industrial producer 2025 Production Leaders: China: 30,000-35,000 MT calcium metal (56% of global production) Russia: 4,000 MT calcium metal USA: 1,000-2,000 MT calcium metal France: Has capacity but currently inactive Raw Material Form Grade/Quality Price Range Major Sources Notes Limestone (CaCO₃) 90-98% CaCO₃ $15-30/MT China, USA, India, Russia Must be calcined to CaO for metal production Dolomite (CaCO₃·MgCO₃) 45-55% CaCO₃ $20-40/MT China, USA, Brazil, India Requires separation of Mg Gypsum (CaSO₄·2H₂O) 70-80% CaSO₄ $25-45/MT China, Iran, Spain
⚠️ Seawater Calcium Extraction
Commercial Viability: NOT ECONOMICALLY VIABLE Concentration: 411 ppm (relatively high but extraction uneconomical) Chemical Form: Ca²⁺ ions in solution Status: No commercial concentrated seawater calcium form exists. While calcium is abundant in seawater, extraction is not economically competitive with limestone mining. Seawater is used for magnesium production but not calcium. Note: Calcium hydroxide is produced by reacting quicklime with seawater in some coastal operations, but this uses mined calcium oxide, not extraction from seawater.
Production cost analysis
| Cost Component | $/MT Calcium | % of Total Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Raw Materials (CaO + Al or CaCl₂) | $800-1,200 | 25-30% | Varies by production method |
| Energy (Electricity + Fuel) | $1,200-1,800 | 35-45% | Higher for electrolytic method |
| Labor | $300-500 | 10-12% | Varies by country |
| Aluminum (for aluminothermic) | $600-900 | 15-20% | Only for thermal reduction |
| Other Materials & Overhead | $400-700 | 10-15% | Vacuum equipment, maintenance |
| Total Production Cost | $3,300-5,100 | 100% | Compare to selling price: $8,000-12,000/MT |
Energy consumption breakdown
| Process Stage | Energy Consumption | % of Total Energy | Energy Type | Key Operations |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrolytic Process (CaCl₂) | 35-40 MWh/MT | 70-80% | Electricity | Electrolysis at 850°C, DC power |
| CaCl₂ Preparation | 5-8 MWh/MT | 10-15% | Natural Gas | Drying and purification |
| Calcination (for Aluminothermic) | 3-5 MWh/MT | 15-20% | Natural Gas/Coal | CaCO₃ → CaO at 900°C |
| Vacuum & Condensation | 2-3 MWh/MT | 5-10% | Electricity | Maintaining 10⁻³ mbar vacuum |
Electrolytic Process Details (Traditional)
Cell Operation: 850°C, 25V, 10-11 A/cm² Current Efficiency: 65-82% Power Consumption: 40,000-50,000 kWh/MT Product Purity: 98-99.5% Electrolyte: CaCl₂-KCl or CaCl₂-CaF₂
Aluminothermic Process Details (Modern)
Temperature: 1200-1300°C Vacuum: 10⁻³ mbar (5-10 Pa) Al Requirement: 1.35 MT Al per MT Ca Recovery Rate: 30-72% Product Purity: 98.5-99%
Commercial forms & specifications
| Product Form | Chemical Formula | Molecular Weight | Typical Purity | Price Range (USD/kg) | Main Applications |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Calcium Metal Lump | Ca | 40.08 g/mol | 98.5-99.5% | $8.00-12.00 | Steelmaking, batteries, alloys |
| Calcium Granules | Ca | 40.08 g/mol | 98.5-99% | $9.00-13.00 | Chemical reduction, alloys |
| Calcium Turnings | Ca | 40.08 g/mol | 98-99% | $10.00-14.00 | Laboratory reagent, batteries |
| Calcium Wire | Ca | 40.08 g/mol | 98.5-99% | $15.00-25.00 | Cored wire for steelmaking |
| Calcium Oxide (Quicklime) | CaO | 56.08 g/mol | 90-95% | $0.10-0.15 | Steel, cement, chemicals |
| Calcium Hydroxide | Ca(OH)₂ | 74.09 g/mol | 95-98% | $0.12-0.20 | Water treatment, construction |
| Calcium Carbonate | CaCO₃ | 100.09 g/mol | 95-99.5% | $0.05-0.30 | Paper, plastics, paint filler |
| Calcium Chloride | CaCl₂·2H₂O | 147.01 g/mol | 94-97% | $0.15-0.30 | De-icing, dust control, drilling |
| Calcium Nitrate | Ca(NO₃)₂·4H₂O | 236.15 g/mol | 99% | $0.30-0.50 | Fertilizer, concrete additive |
| Calcium Sulfate | CaSO₄·2H₂O | 172.17 g/mol | 95-99% | $0.05-0.15 | Plaster, cement, paper |
| Calcium-Aluminum Alloy | Ca-Al (75/25) | Variable | 75% Ca, 25% Al | $6.00-10.00 | Lead batteries, steel deoxidation |
| Calcium Silicide | CaSi₂ | 96.25 g/mol | 98-99% | $2.50-4.00 | Steel deoxidation, pyrotechnics |
Suppliers by country
🇨🇳 China
| Company | Product Forms | Specialties |
|---|---|---|
| Hebi Weiduoli Metal Co. | Metal lumps, granules, wire, Ca-Al alloys | World's largest calcium metal producer, aluminothermic process |
| Shanxi Furuide Metal | Metal lumps, turnings, Ca-Si alloys | Electrolytic and aluminothermic calcium |
| Inner Mongolia Baotou Steel Union | Calcium metal, cored wire, alloys | Integrated steel and calcium production |
🇷🇺 Russia
| Company | Product Forms | Specialties |
|---|---|---|
| Chepetsky Mechanical Plant (ChMP) | High-purity calcium metal, granules | Electrolytic calcium, 99.5% purity, 4,000 MT/year capacity |
🇺🇸 United States
| Company | Product Forms | Specialties |
|---|---|---|
| Minteq International (Minerals Technologies) | Calcium metal, cored wire, Ca compounds | Specialty calcium products for steel industry |
| ATT Metal | High-purity calcium (up to 99.999%), custom forms | Ultra-high purity calcium for electronics |
🇫🇷 France
| Company | Product Forms | Specialties |
|---|---|---|
| Métaux Spéciaux (inactive) | Previously: metal lumps, granules | Has production capability but currently not producing |
🇮🇳 India
| Company | Product Forms | Specialties |
|---|---|---|
| Global Calcium PVT Ltd | Calcium compounds, pharmaceutical grade | Pharmaceutical and nutraceutical calcium |
Calcium Compound Suppliers (Global)
| Company | Location | Main Products |
|---|---|---|
| Carmeuse | Belgium/Global | Calcium oxide, calcium hydroxide |
| Lhoist | Belgium/Global | Lime, dolime, calcium minerals |
| Mississippi Lime | USA | High-calcium lime products |
| TETRA Technologies | USA/Europe | Calcium chloride (largest EU producer) |
| Solvay | Belgium/Global | Calcium chloride, calcium derivatives |
Market demand by product form
| Product Form | Global Market Size | Main Markets | Key Applications | Growth Rate (CAGR) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Calcium Metal | $1.2-1.5 billion | China (70%), India (10%) | Steel, batteries, alloys | 4.5% |
| Calcium Carbonate | $47.5 billion | Asia-Pacific (45%) | Paper (42%), plastics, paint | 6.6% |
| Calcium Oxide/Hydroxide | $5.1 billion | East Asia leads | Steel, construction, water treatment | 3.4% |
| Calcium Chloride | $1.73 billion | North America (35%) | De-icing, oil drilling, dust control | 4.4% |
| Calcium Nitrate | $12.0 billion | Asia-Pacific fastest growing | Fertilizer, concrete additive | 5.8% |
| Calcium Silicide | $0.3 billion | China (60%), Japan (15%) | Steel deoxidation | 3.5% |
| Calcium-Aluminum Alloys | $0.5 billion | China (50%), USA (20%) | Lead-acid batteries | 5.2% |
Market trends
China Dominance: China produces 56% of global calcium metal, primarily through aluminothermic reduction Battery Market Growth: Lead-acid battery industry driving demand for Ca-Al alloys Steel Industry: Largest consumer of calcium metal for desulfurization and inclusion modification Environmental Regulations: Driving demand for calcium compounds in water treatment and flue gas desulfurization Construction Boom: Asia-Pacific construction growth increasing calcium oxide/carbonate demand Supply Concentration Risk: Western countries concerned about dependence on Chinese calcium supply Technology Shift: Research into more efficient production methods and calcium-ion batteries
Moles per kilogram
| Product Form | Formula | MW (g/mol) | Moles/kg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Calcium Metal | Ca | 40.08 | 24.95 |
| Calcium Oxide | CaO | 56.08 | 17.83 |
| Calcium Hydroxide | Ca(OH)₂ | 74.09 | 13.50 |
| Calcium Carbonate | CaCO₃ | 100.09 | 9.99 |
| Calcium Chloride (dihydrate) | CaCl₂·2H₂O | 147.01 | 6.80 |
| Calcium Nitrate (tetrahydrate) | Ca(NO₃)₂·4H₂O | 236.15 | 4.23 |
| Calcium Sulfate (dihydrate) | CaSO₄·2H₂O | 172.17 | 5.81 |
References
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