Overview of the carbonate rock sector in Ceará, Rio Grande do Norte, Paraíba and Pernambuco

Abstract

This article analyzes the productive, economic, and territorial structure of the carbonatic rock (limestone) sector in the states of Ceará, Rio Grande do Norte, Paraíba, and Pernambuco, defined as the Study Area (SA). The methodology combines bibliographic review, documentary analysis, and processing of secondary data from the National Mining Agency (ANM), IBGE, ABRACAL, SNIC, ABIROCHAS, and sectoral entities, utilizing a time series from 2010 to 2025 and mining data updated to 2026. The results show that the SA concentrates 41.2% of the limestone mining processes in the Northeast, 50.9% of accumulated production, 55.3% of exploration and mining investments, and 36.5% of the CFEM in the period, in addition to contributing approximately 25.8% of the mineral production value (limestone) of the Northeast in 2025, with a strong concentration in Ceará. The Mineral Production Value and the CFEM also grew, albeit with heterogeneity among the states. The cement, lime, mortar, agricultural corrective, and ornamental stone industries constitute the main markets. The results indicated that future competitiveness depends on processing/beneficiation, diversification, logistical efficiency, technological innovation, regulatory compliance, and waste recovery according to circular economy principles.