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Gypsum industry news
India imposes wallboard duty on selected imports
18 April 2013India: The Finance Ministry has imposed an anti-dumping duty on wallboard imported from China, Indonesia, Thailand and the UAE. The import tax has been declared valid for five years starting from 7 June 2012 when the provisional anti-dumping duty was first imposed. The duty excludes fire-resistant boards.
For wallboard imports from China, the duty is US$32.9/m3. For imports from Indonesia the duty is US$24.1/m3. For imports from Thailand, wallboard produced and exported by Siam Gypsum Industry (Saraburi) and Siam Gypsum Industry (Songkhla) has received a preferential rate of US$54.5/m3. All other wallboard imports from Thailand will receive a duty of US$73.8/m3. For imports from UAE produced and exported by Gypsemna Dubai the duty is US$12.3/m3. All other imports from UAE will receive a duty of US$20.2/m3.
DGAD recommends wallboard anti-dumping duty in India
01 March 2013India: The Directorate General of Anti-dumping and Allied Duties (DGAD) has recommended that India impose an anti-dumping duty of up to US$73.8/m3 on imports of gypsum plasterboard from China, Indonesia, Thailand and UAE to protect domestic producers. The recommendation excludes certain varieties of fire-resistant boards.
The DGAD's recommendation comes on the basis of its findings that increased imports have caused 'material injury' to the domestic industry. Mumbai-based Saint-Gobain Gyproc India had filed a petition for imposing anti-dumping duty on behalf of the domestic industry. The directorate has recommended different set of duties that range between US$12.3/m3 and US$73.8m3.
The DGAD, which is under the jurisdiction of the Commerce Ministry, said that the boards have been exported to India below its normal value from these nations. However, it said that fire heat boards, impact boards, gypsum ceiling boards with moisture barrier, heat boards, anti-mould boards, thermal boards, gypsum ceiling boards with aluminium edges sealed in white film and ceiling tiles may escape the restrictive duty.
Border opening causes sudden shift in gypsum prices
22 June 2012Pakistan/India: The price of gypsum has increased by about US$1.50/t for local consumers after the opening of Wagha border, because mine contactors are exporting gypsum to neighbouring India in massive quantities. Industry sources said that if exports of gypsum continued unchecked the local cement manufacturers, who are the major users of this commodity, will suffer the most due to its constant hike in rates, which may impact the price of cement.
In India the price change has been in the opposite direction and more pronounced, with prices falling from US$35/t to US$24/t on a glut in supply.
An official of the Pakistani Punjab Mines & Minerals Department, on the condition that his name not to be mentioned, questioned the prudence of allowing raw gypsum exports. "We are monitoring export of gypsum and trying to approach the cement industry, which is the biggest user of this mine. In several meetings with the representatives of the cement industry we have raised the issue of unregulated gypsum exports to India through the Wahga border route," the official said.
In the 2010-2011 financial year, which ended on 30 June 2012, Pakistan produced around 0.68Mt of gypsum, with its part of Punjab producing 0.49Mt of the total.
Ukraine gypsum export figures
01 July 2011Ukraine: Gross gypsum exports in the first five months of 2011 amounted to 27056 tons, bringing in USD2.01m. In May the country exported 6946t of gypsum, worth USD658,000. The values represent a 23% decrease in tonnage compared to the same period of 2010 and a financial decrease of 54.4%. May 2011 brought in 50.2% less than May 2010 in financial terms.
The leading exporters of gypsum in May 2011 were Knauf Gips Donbass LLC, Gipsovik OJSC, Ivano-Frankovsjiy Cement, Slate Combine OJSC and Mamalyzhskiy Gypsum Plant OJSC. The leading importer was Budfarfor Slavutsk Combine CJSC.