Gypsum industry news

France: Knauf France’s Fos-sur-Mer gypsum wallboard plant, which it inaugurated earlier in 2024, will receive 300,000t/yr of Spanish gypsum for use as raw materials, the Le Marin newspaper has reported. The plant is situated behind Sea-Invest Group’s mineral terminal at the port of Fos-sur-Mer. It has begun receiving its gypsum in regular shipments of 14,000t from the port of Garrucha, Spain.

US: US gypsum wallboard sales grew by 1% year-on-year to 628Mm² during the first quarter of 2024. The country imported 20.1Mm² of gypsum wallboard, down by 13% year-on-year. Mexico supplied 19.3Mm² (96%) and Canada 800,000m² (4%) of imports. Meanwhile, the US exported 19.1Mm² of gypsum wallboard during the quarter, 18Mm² (94%) of it to Canada.

Japan: Chiyoda Ute is taking part in a demonstration project intended to demonstrate the recycling of gypsum wallboard. The so-called ‘horizontal recycling scheme’ includes construction company Mori Building, interior design company Senba and wallboard recycling company Tokuyama Chiyoda Gypsum. Based on the results of the demonstration the companies hope to build a wallboard recycling supply chain.

It is estimated that the volume of wallboard waste in Japan will exceed 2Mt/yr in 2032 and 3Mt/yr in 2047. However, there are concerns that the recycling rate is low and managed final disposal sites are becoming scarce. In addition, supplies of synthetic gypsum from coal-fired power stations are expected to decrease. At present the country imports over 2Mt/yr of gypsum.

Brunei Darussalam/Indonesia: Siam-Indo Gypsum Industry delivered a shipment of gypsum products to Brunei Darussalam earlier in March 2024. The Borneo Bulletin newspaper has reported that the shipment will contribute materials for a 1000-unit housing development in country.

Importer VSL Systems reported that Indonesia's exports to Brunei Darussalam increased consistently year-on-year every year between 2018 and 2022.

US: National consumption of gypsum wallboard dropped by 4.3% year-on-year to 2.51Mm² in 2023, according to United States Geological Survey (USGS) data. Demand for natural gypsum was 45Mt, up by 3% from 43.7Mt in 2022. The market imported 8.1Mt of gypsum throughout the year, up by 18% year-on-year.

Domestic production of crude gypsum in the US dropped by 1.3% year-on-year in 2023, to 22Mt. Exports grew by 15% to 45,000t.

Oman: Oman exported 11.2Mt of natural gypsum from its Port of Salalah in 2023, up by 11% year-on-year from 9.9Mt in 2022. Zawawi Minerals has reported that the main destination for exports was India, which received 5.3Mt (47%) of Oman’s exported gypsum for the year. Oman is reportedly the source of 90% of India’s gypsum imports.

India: The government has implemented new duties on imports of gypsum wallboard from China and Oman. Importers will pay US$23.46 – 47.62/t on Chinese gypsum wallboard and US$71.80 – 91.42/t on Omani gypsum wallboard. The Hindu newspaper has reported that precise rates will depend upon the producer of the wallboard.

US: The US Geological Survey reported domestic natural gypsum production volumes of 16.3Mt during the first nine months of 2023, down by 0.3% year-on-year from 16.4Mt during the corresponding part of 2022. Meanwhile, calcined gypsum production volumes grew by 1.2%, to 14Mt from 13.8Mt. Throughout the period, the US imported 5.91Mt of crude gypsum, up by 35% year-on-year. Spain supplied 2.4Mt (41%) of imports, followed by Mexico with 1.7Mt (29 %) and Canada with 1.56Mt (26%).

Philippines: The government has cut the import duty on natural gypsum and anhydrite to zero from 3% previously in a bid to help the local wallboard and cement sectors. It is also expected to support housing and infrastructure projects in the country, according to the Philippines News Agency. Executive Order (EO) No. 46 was signed in early November 2023, approving the change in duty that was due to come into effect a month later in early December 2023.

The EO stated "At present, there are no operating mines of natural gypsum and anhydrite in the country, and there are also no local substitute for said products that are available for domestic producers of plasterboards and cement." The tariff rate is intended to last for five years but it will be reviewed annually at the end of 2024.

India: The Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR) has recommended a five-year anti-dumping duty on gypsum tiles imported from China and Oman. Saint-Gobain India initiated the investigation that started in late 2022. It considered gypsum tiles laminated on one side with polyvinyl chloride (PVC) or wax paper that are typically used in ceilings. The study concluded that the product had been “exported to India at a price below the normal value, resulting in dumping.”