Cement production by country is dominated by China, which produced an estimated 1,900 million metric tons in 2024 — nearly half of the global total of roughly 4,000 million metric tons. India ranked second at 450 million metric tons, followed by Vietnam, the United States, and Turkey. The figures come from the U.S. Geological Survey’s January 2025 Mineral Commodity Summaries, the most recent full-year dataset available.1U.S. Geological Survey. Mineral Commodity Summaries – Cement
The 2024 Rankings
The top ten producers, by estimated 2024 output in million metric tons:
- China: 1,900
- India: 450
- Vietnam: 110
- United States: 86
- Turkey: 82
- Iran: 72
- Brazil: 68
- Indonesia: 65
- Russia: 65
- South Korea: 52
Just below that group, Egypt and Saudi Arabia each produced about 50 million metric tons, Mexico 48 million, and Japan 46 million. Together the top ten account for roughly three-quarters of all cement made worldwide.1U.S. Geological Survey. Mineral Commodity Summaries – Cement
That concentration matters. When output shifts in one of the leading countries, the effects reach construction costs and supply chains well beyond its borders. Countries without domestic kiln capacity depend on imports, which leaves them exposed to price swings driven by decisions made in a handful of large producers.
China’s Slowdown, India’s Surge
China’s production fell from roughly 2,100 million metric tons in 2022 to 1,900 million in 2024.1U.S. Geological Survey. Mineral Commodity Summaries – Cement The main driver was a contraction in real estate investment along with slower infrastructure spending, which left the industry with significant overcapacity.2Global Cement. Update on China, April 2025 Even after that decline, China still produces more cement than the next ten countries combined.
India has moved in the other direction. Output climbed from about 410 million metric tons in 2023 to 450 million in 2024, and industry projections put the figure near 490 million metric tons by the end of fiscal year 2026.1U.S. Geological Survey. Mineral Commodity Summaries – Cement Government spending on roads, railways, and affordable housing is fueling the growth. India’s 2026–27 budget allocated record capital expenditure toward infrastructure, and rural housing alone now accounts for roughly a third of domestic cement demand.3India Brand Equity Foundation. Indian Cement Industry Analysis
The divergence is beginning to reshape the top of the global ranking. China’s share of world production is dipping below half for the first time in years, and India’s rising output is starting to change trade flows and investment patterns across Asia.
Where Production Concentrates
Asia produces the overwhelming majority of the world’s cement. China and India together account for nearly 60 percent of the global total. Vietnam has grown into a major exporter, with the United States and Singapore among its main destination markets. Producers across Southeast and South Asia benefit from proximity to fast-growing population centers and from maritime routes that keep export costs manageable.
Europe and North America are mature markets where demand comes mostly from maintaining and upgrading existing infrastructure rather than building new cities. U.S. production sits at about 86 million metric tons, enough to cover most domestic needs but supplemented by imports. Turkey, at 82 million metric tons, exports significant volumes to neighboring regions.1U.S. Geological Survey. Mineral Commodity Summaries – Cement
The Middle East and North Africa contribute through Iran, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia, each producing between 50 and 72 million metric tons a year. Much of that capacity was built to serve domestic construction booms and large state projects, with surplus output going to export markets.
The Next Growth Frontier
Sub-Saharan Africa is where installed capacity is expanding fastest. The region held roughly 280 million metric tons of installed cement capacity in 2025, and that figure is projected to exceed 500 million metric tons by 2030, driven in part by urbanization rates above 4 percent a year.4iFactory. Cement Plants in Sub-Saharan Africa: Analytics for Emerging Markets New plants tend to cluster near coastlines or major rail corridors because moving such a heavy product any real distance is expensive. If capacity is built out on that trajectory, several African producers will move up the rankings over the second half of this decade.
How These Numbers Are Compiled
The U.S. Geological Survey is the most widely cited source for country-level cement production figures. Its Mineral Commodity Summaries, released each January, cover production estimates and installed capacity for several dozen countries, drawing on government reports and industry contacts. The January 2025 edition, containing 2024 estimates, is the most current available.1U.S. Geological Survey. Mineral Commodity Summaries – Cement
Industry groups fill in some of the gaps. The Global Cement and Concrete Association requires its full member companies to monitor and publicly report sustainability performance across several key indicators, and it consolidates that data for stakeholders.5Global Cement and Concrete Association. Cement Best Practices and Reporting Because industry reporting is voluntary, that coverage is narrower than the USGS dataset, though it often includes operational detail such as kiln efficiency and emissions intensity that government reports do not.
One caveat worth keeping in mind: figures for some countries are USGS estimates rather than confirmed national data, particularly where statistical agencies do not publish timely cement reports. The USGS flags those estimates in its tables. In smaller producing countries, a swing of a few percentage points year over year may reflect revised estimation methods as much as an actual change in output.