US: Data from the US Geological Survey (USGS) shows that consumption of calcined gypsum rose by 2.95% year-on-year to 8.38Mt in the first half of 2018 from 8.14Mt in the same period in 2017. Production rose by 3.05% to 8.44Mt from 8.19Mt. However, consumption of all gypsum fell by 1.47% to 20.1Mt from 20.1Mt with a decrease in mined gypsum and an increase in imported gypsum. Calcined gypsum used for board products rose by 2.94% to 10.5Mt and the total supply of board products rose by 3.11% to 1.17Bnm2.