US: Gypsum production in the US has increased by 11% to 9.9Mt in 2012 compared to 8.9Mt in 2011, according to a report from the United States Geological Survey (USGS). The USGS attributed this rise to increases in activity in the US housing and construction markets.
In its Mineral Commodity Summary for Gypsum in 2012, the USGS reported that the apparent consumption of gypsum increased by 4% to 24.6Mt in 2012 compared to 23.7Mt in 2011. Wallboard products sold rose slightly from 1.60BM2 in 2011 to 1.63BM2 in 2012. Overall, 47 companies produced gypsum in the US at 54 mines and plants in 34 States. Approximately 90% of domestic consumption, with a total of approximately 22Mt, was accounted for by manufacturers of wallboard and plaster products. At the beginning of 2012 the production capacity of operating wallboard plants in the US was about 3.07BM2/yr.
In its overview of the industry the report commented that the US ranked fourth in the world for gypsum production after China, Iran and Spain. An increased use of wallboard in Asia, coupled with new gypsum product plants, spurred increased production in that region. The report expected that the worldwide production of gypsum would rise driven by the increasing popularity of wallboard due to its economy and efficiency.
Lastly, it was noted that if the construction of wallboard plants designed to use synthetic gypsum from flue gas desulfurisation (FGD) units continues this will result in less mining of natural gypsum. The availability of inexpensive natural gas, however, may limit the increase of future FGD units and, therefore, the production of synthetic gypsum.
