Ical Industria de Calcinação

What Ical Industria de Calcinação does

ICAL (Ical Indústria de Calcinação) is a privately held, 100% Brazilian-owned producer of lime, limestone derivatives, and aggregates, founded in 1949 and headquartered in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais. It operates six production facilities across Minas Gerais and Ceará, comprising ten kilns (five rotary and five vertical) with calcination capacity of approximately 2,300 tons per day at its flagship Pains unit, supported by two private railway terminals for multimodal bulk delivery. The company is self-described as Brazil's largest lime producer, employs between 501 and 1,000 people, and holds limestone reserves exceeding 3 billion tons—equivalent to roughly 450+ years of production at current extraction rates. Operations are integrated through SAP ERP.

The company serves three end-markets: industrial (steel, mining, paper, sugar/alcohol, water treatment), civil construction, and agriculture. The industrial segment anchors revenue with named long-term customers including Gerdau, Usiminas, Ternium, ArcelorMittal, and Belgo-Mineira, which together represent the bulk of Brazilian steel capacity. The product portfolio spans quicklime, hydrated lime, limestone aggregates, agricultural correctives, and specialty products including synthetic slags and customized formulations, distributed through sub-brands Fertical, AGRO MPB, EIMCAL, Fabrical, and the in-house innovation platform ICAL Labs. In 2022, ICAL introduced biomass-based calcination technology to reduce fossil-fuel dependence and lower process carbon intensity.

The business model is industrial B2B supply: long-term volume contracts with steel and heavy-industrial off-takers generate predictable base load, supplemented by distributed sales to construction materials distributors and agricultural input resellers. Subsidiaries Cobrascal (1977), EIMCAL (2007), and Fabrical (2017) provide vertical reach into specialty derivatives, complementary industrial minerals, and Northeast Brazil production respectively, while Montreal Mineração and Usibrita Mineração extend upstream mineral control. Differentiation rests on resource ownership, kiln scale, rail logistics, and proprietary specialty formulations rather than on technology platforms or software.

Name

Ical Industria de Calcinação

Legal name

ICAL – Indústria de Calcinação Ltda

Website

https://ical.com.br

Company type

Private

Founded year

1949

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Ical is Brazil's largest privately held lime producer, founded in 1949, operating six facilities and ten kilns across Minas Gerais and Ceará with vertically integrated limestone reserves. It supplies quicklime, hydrated lime, aggregates, and specialty products to the steel, construction, and agriculture sectors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Lime and Limestone Manufacturing

SIC

Mining & Quarrying Of Nonmetallic Minerals (No Fuels) (1400)

akta.pro primary industry

Aggregates & Dimension Stone Trading (Sand & Gravel, Crushed Stone, Limestone, Granite, Marble) (IMAKAJAG)

Keywords

• Industrial lime production
• Limestone calcination
• Construction aggregates supply
• Agricultural soil correctives
• Steelmaking flux materials

Headquarters

HQ city

São José Da Varginha

HQ country

Brazil

HQ region

Latin America

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Operations, Supply Chain, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Lime and Limestone Products: Production and sale of calcined lime (calcítica and dolomítica), hydrated lime, and limestone products for industrial, agricultural, and civil construction applications. Products are sold in various forms including bags (20kg), big bags, and bulk.
2. Aggregates (Areia, Brita, Pedra): Production and sale of aggregates including artificial sand, crushed stone (britada), and stone for construction applications delivered in bulk for concrete plants, asphalt plants, infrastructure projects.
3. Agricultural Fertilizers and Correctives (Fertical): Calcined fertilizers with high calcium and magnesium content for soil acidity correction. PRNT can reach up to 180%, providing immediate reaction and nutrient availability.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

ICAL is a 100% Brazilian industrial group that produces and sells quicklime (calcitic and dolomitic), hydrated lime, limestone, and construction aggregates (sand and crushed stone). It also markets calcined agricultural fertilizers under the Fertical brand. Products are sold in multiple formats (20kg bags, big bags, bulk) and supplied to industrial, civil construction, and agricultural customers across Brazil.

Product overview

ICAL is a 100% Brazilian industrial group founded in 1949, specializing in the production of limestone, aggregates, and lime. The product portfolio consists of three main categories: (1) Industrial Lime Products including Cal Hidratada Calcítica, Cal Virgem Calcítica, Cal Virgem Dolomítica, Cal Hidratada Dolomítica, and Calcário (both Calcítico and Dolomítico); (2) Construction Civil Products including various hydrated lime types (CH-I, CH-III Aditivada), mortar binders, and powder paints; and (3) Agricultural Products including the Fertical line of calcined fertilizers (6030 VD, 4520 HD, 9000 VC, 7000 HC, 5418+S) and Agro MPB limestone products. The company also produces Aggregates including industrial sand, stone dust, various gravel sizes (Brita 00 through 3), Bica Corrida, and specialty stones. Customized solutions include Synthetic Slags for steel refining, High Surface Area Hydrated Lime for gas treatment, Portable Hydrators for on-site lime milk production, and Desulfurization Lime for pig iron processing. ICAL operates across three main market segments: industry (steel, chemicals, sugar/alcohol, paper/ cellulose, mining, water treatment), construction civil, and agriculture.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Fertical: Calcinated fertilizer products with high calcium and magnesium content for soil acidity correction in agriculture.
• AGRO MPB
• EIMCAL
• Fabrical
• ICAL Labs

Products and services

• Cal Hidratada Calcítica Hydrated lime (calcium hydroxide, Ca(OH)2), a versatile white powder with high fineness and purity used in industrial applications including water treatment, pH adjustment, and chemical processes.
• Cal Virgem Calcítica Quicklime derived from calcination of calcitic limestone, primarily composed of calcium oxide (CaO), which reacts easily with water and generates heat. Used as a flux and reactive industrial input.
• Cal Virgem Dolomítica Quicklime from dolomitic limestone calcination containing calcium oxide (CaO) and magnesium oxide (MgO), with approximately 30% magnesium oxide content, available in various granulometries.
• Cal Hidratada Dolomítica Alkaline chemical compound with formula CaMg(OH)4, a white powder with high concentration of magnesium hydroxide (approximately 20% MgO) used in industrial processes.
• Calcário Calcítico Limestone primarily composed of calcium carbonate (CaCO3) with calcium oxide (CaO) as main component above 50%, available in white, pink, or gray colors.
• Calcário Dolomítico Mineral calcium and magnesium carbonate CaMg(CO3)2 with white, pink, or gray coloration and 12% to 18% MgO content.
• Cal Hidratada CH-III Aditivada Additive hydrated lime CH-III available in 15Kg and 20Kg bags for civil construction applications including coatings, mortars, and specialized construction use.
• Cal Hidratada CH-I Hydrated lime CH-I in 15Kg bags for civil construction applications including coatings, mortars, painting, and whitewashing.
• Ligante para Massa Binder for mortar available in 10Kg, 15Kg, and 20Kg packages for construction applications.
• Cal Hidratada Especial para Caiação Special hydrated lime for whitewashing applications, providing finish for walls and surfaces.
• Cal e Cimento (Aglomerante Composto) Compound binder combining lime and cement for construction applications.
• Supercal 100% virgem 100% virgin lime in 5Kg packages bundled in 20kg sacks for construction use.
• Tinta em Pó
• Fertical 6030 VD Calcined fertilizer with 56-64% CaO and 26-34% MgO, PRNT up to 180%, designed for rapid soil acidity correction with immediate nutrient availability.
• Fertical 4520 HD Calcined fertilizer with 41-49% CaO and 16-24% MgO, providing concentrated calcium and magnesium for soil correction and plant nutrition.
• Fertical 9000 VC High-purity calcined fertilizer with 90% CaO content, providing 64% calcium for soil correction applications.
• Fertical 7000 HC Calcined fertilizer with 70% CaO content, providing 48% calcium for agricultural soil correction.
• Fertical 5418+S
• Calcário Dolomítico Agro MPB
• Calcário Semi Calcinado Agro MPB
• Areia Industrial
• Pó de Pedra
• Brita (Grades 00, 0, 1, 2, 3)
• Bica Corrida
• BGS - Brita Graduada Simples
• Pedra de Mão
• Calçamento
• Pedra Bruta (Matacão)
• Escórias Sintéticas
• Cal Hidratada Especial de Alta Superfície Específica
• Hidratador Portátil (Leite de Cal)
• Cal Dessulfurante

Quantifiable outcome

• PRNT up to 180% for Fertical products, reducing dosage by up to 70% compared to common agricultural limestone
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Carmeuse: Global lime and limestone producer headquartered in Belgium with operations across the Americas, Europe, and Africa. Produces high-calcium and dolomitic lime for steel, environmental, and industrial uses, directly mirroring ICAL's core product portfolio and customer segments.
• Lhoist Group: Belgian-headquartered global leader in lime, dolime, and mineral products for steel, construction, and environmental applications. Direct competitor in identical product categories (quicklime, hydrated lime, specialty lime) serving the same industrial end-markets as ICAL.
• Mississippi Lime Company: Large US-based producer of high-calcium quicklime, hydrated lime, and calcium carbonate products serving steel, water treatment, and industrial markets. Direct peer with comparable technical-grade and specialty lime capabilities.
• Graymont: Canadian privately-held producer of lime and limestone products serving steel, construction, and environmental markets across North America and Asia-Pacific. Comparable vertically integrated model with reserves, kilns, and specialized industrial lime offerings.

Regional players

• CSN (Companhia Siderúrgica Nacional): Major Brazilian integrated steelmaker with adjacent mining and cement operations. While primarily a steel customer of ICAL rather than a lime competitor, its vertical integration into industrial minerals creates partial overlap in aggregates and limestone supply chains in Brazil.
• Votorantim Cimentos: Major Brazilian cement, aggregates, and construction materials producer under the Votorantim group. Comparable as a Brazilian industrial minerals producer serving construction and infrastructure, though focused on cement rather than lime and calcination.

Emerging players

• Specialty Minerals Inc. (Minerals Technologies): Subsidiary of Minerals Technologies Inc. producing precipitated calcium carbonate (PCC) and ground calcium carbonate for industrial uses. Comparable in calcium-based mineral processing and serving similar industrial end-markets, particularly paper and specialty chemicals.

Broad incumbents

• Imerys: French multinational specialty minerals producer with a broad portfolio including lime, calcium carbonates, and performance minerals. Overlaps with ICAL in industrial minerals for steel, construction, and environmental uses but operates across many additional mineral categories.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/1509706055911100
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ical-industria-de-calcina-o-ltda.

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Ical Industria de Calcinação