Gypsum industry news

Thailand: Gypman Tech plans to raise its sales revenue by listing on the Market for Alternative Investment (MAI) in 2018, in order to further increase its production capacity. The gypsum wallboard producer increased its production capacity to 12Mm² in 2015 from 6Mm² in a move that is intended to double its sales revenue by the end of 2018, according to the Nation newspaper.

Managing director Supachai Hirunyanitiwatna established Gypman Tech in 2014 to produce gypsum wallboard to serve local demand. The company operates a plant in Nakhon Sawan province close to a gypsum mine.

US: Continental Building Products' (CBP) net sales have risen by 12.5% year-on-year to US$229m in the first half of 2016 from US$204m in the same period in 2015. Its net income rose to US$25.2m from US$1.89m. Sales volumes of gypsum wallboard rose by 4.2% to 59.7Mm² from 57.3Mm².

"For the second consecutive quarter, we experienced stronger demand in our markets east of the Mississippi, which generated a 13% increase in wallboard volume versus the prior year," said Jay Bachmann, the chief executive officer of CBP.

France: Saint-Gobain's sales revenue has fallen by 1.6% year-on-year to Euro19.6bn in the first half of 2016 from Euro19.9bn in the same period of 2015. Its earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) rose by 3.8% to Euro1.89bn from Euro1.96bn. The group blamed the loss in sales revenue on negative currency changes, especially in Latin American, and to a lesser extent, in the UK following its decision to leave the European Union. Saint-Gobain's Interior Solutions division, which includes gypsum wallboard and insulation production, reported a 3.1% rise in sales revenue to Euro3.3bn from Euro3.2bn.

"Saint-Gobain's sales for first-half 2016 confirm our February forecasts, with France stabilising and all regions making strong contribution to growth. Our strategy of investing in emerging markets provides us with a diversified platform for profitable growth. Our first-half results also benefited from efforts to optimise our operations, particularly in Western Europe, and from upbeat trading in the US. The results are in line with our objectives and we expect alike-for-like improvement in operating income for second-half 2016 versus second-half 2015. While the 23 June 2016 Brexit vote in the UK has created a climate of uncertainty, it does not affect our objectives," said Pierre-André de Chalendar, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Saint-Gobain.

US: USG's net sales have risen by 5% year-on-year to US$1.97bn in the first half of 2016 from US$1.90bn in the same period in 2015. The company's net income rose by 37% to US$141m from US$103m. Net sales for its overall gypsum business rose by 6% to US$1.27bn from US$1.19bn. However, net sales for its gypsum business in Mexico and Latin America fell by 3% to US$93m in the first half of 2016 from US$94m in the same period of 2015.

"Our focus on operational execution in all of our businesses drove our improved second quarter results," said James S Metcalf, Chairman, President, and CEO of USG. "Expanding operating margins is a key priority for USG, and we delivered margin expansion in all of our businesses in the second quarter."

US: Eagle Materials' sales revenue from gypsum wallboard has fallen slightly by 1.6% year-on-year to US$113m in the first quarter of its 2017 financial year that ended on 30 June 2016 from US$115m in the same period in 2015. Overall company revenue rose by 1.5% to US$298m from US$285m. Gypsum wallboard sales volumes rose by 2% to 54Mm² from 53Mm².

Saudi Arabia: National Gypsum Company has reported that its net profit fell by 64% year-on-year to US$1.5m in the first half of 2016, from US$4.2m in the same period in 2015. Its net profit for the second quarter of 2016 fell more sharply, dropping by 80% to US$573,000.

India: Engineering company Essar Projects has won a US$44.7m contract from the Indian Farmers Fertilizer Co-operative (IFFCO) to build a phosphogypsum stack at its Paradip plant in Odisha, India's largest phosphatic fertiliser complex.
The project has two phases. Phase I, which is valued at about US$28m, involves completion of approximately 60% of the total construction and must be completed in 20 months. The second phase involves construction of the remaining 40% and will have to be completed in 10 months. Essar Projects has completed three projects for IFFCO Paradip to date.

"The fact that this is our fourth major back-to-back project with IFFCO, is a reflection of the customer's confidence in our capabilities. We are pleased to say that we have already delivered some key works of the current contract that had to be completed before the onset of the monsoon," said AV Amarnath, COO, Essar Projects.

US: The Gypsum Association has been designated a Preferred Provider under the International Code Council (ICC) Preferred Provider Program (PPP). The Gypsum Association already is an American Institute of Architects (AIA) Continuing Education System (CES) Provider.

The ICC PPP provides building code officials and others with education related to codes, standards, and guidelines, as well as building construction materials, products and methods. The Gypsum Association intends to provide online education for its GA-600 Fire Resistance Design Manual, a publication offering fire resistive designs referenced by model building codes.

Germany: Gebr Pfeiffer will build a MPS 160 B vertical roller mill at the Siniat Hartershofen gypsum wallboard plant. The mill will replace the existing Pfeiffer MPS 125 A at the site. The new mill will be set up in an annex next to the old grinding plant and the majority of the existing equipment will be reused.

The scope of services comprises delivery of the mill, adjusting equipment including a hot gas generator, process ducting, electrics, buildings and foundations, including installation and connection works as well as integration into the existing process. Switch-over and commissioning of the grinding plant is planned for December 2016.

Vietnam: Knauf Vietnam has launched StandardShield, a locally-produced brand of gypsum wallboard made at its plant at Hai Phon. The event was marked with a ceremony for clients and press at Ho Chi Minh City on 8 July 2016.

"After two years of operation, with product presence in key areas, we believe this is really the good time for us to supply the market with local products," said David Victor Thomas, General Director of Knauf Vietnam. "This is our special gift for all our valued customers, aimed at expressing our deep gratitude with their continuous support and cooperation in recent years."

Knauf StandardShield is 9.5mm thick with dimensions of 1220 x 2440mm and 1210 x 2420mm. The product is promoted as having high performance in terms of flexural strength, sag and nail pull resistance that passes all requirements of TCVN 8256:2009 and ASTM C1396.

Knauf Vietnam started commissioning at its local wallboard plant March 2016. The plant has a production capacity of 20Mm²/yr.