National Cement Production Estimates: 1950 - 2013

An industrial source of CO2 is from cement manufacturing. Hydraulic cement, particularly Portland cement, is the most abundant and widely used type of cement. Portland cement is a combination of two types of raw materials: one rich in calcium, such as limestone, chalk, marl, or clam or oyster shells; the other rich in silica, such as clay or shale. In a cement kiln, calcium carbonate (CaCO3) is broken down (calcined) into CO2 and calcium oxide (CaO). The CaO is used in manufacturing cement, and the CO2 is released to the atmosphere. Several studies determined the amount of CO2 emitted during cement manufacturing using data published by the UN or the United States Bureau of Mines. Although the amounts of CO2 produced from cement manufacturing are far less (~2% of 2006 global CO2 emissions) than those from fossil-fuel consumption, the quantities are large enough to constitute an important source of CO2 emissions.<br><br>This database contains national, annual hydraulic cement production estimates compiled by the U.S. Department of Interior's Bureau of Mines.