Gypsum industry news
2500t of gypsum seized in illegal gypsum mining campaign
06 February 2014India: In a campaign against illegal mining, local police seized 2500t of gypsum from Dantoor in Bikaner district, Jaipur, on 5 February 2014.
Mining equipment was seized and 15 cases have been registered. On the third day of the campaign, a team was prepared to claim gypsum from a plaster of paris manufacturing unit in Bikaner region. The owner was not able to provide the purchase vouchers or state the source of the gypsum. "We received the information and a team was sent. The Bikaner region has a lot of gypsum that, at times, reaches the plants illegally," said Rohit Mahajan, deputy inspector general of vigilance (mining).
The police have registered eight cases in Jhunjhunu and five cases in Nagaur. Officials asserted that due to fear of action against them during the campaign, several illegal mining mafias have stopped their activities. However, they agreed that more such efforts are needed to curb it completely.
"At several places, the mineral can be found on the layer of soils. To extract it, there is no need for sophisticated equipment. Stopping illegal mining activities in these areas is difficult, but certainly the campaign has struck fear among the mafias," added Mahajan.
Police claim that instead of fining the culprits, cases have been registered against them. If they are found to be involved in illegal mining again, stricter action may be taken.
Thai supplier refocuses on exports
05 September 2013Thailand: BuilderSmart plc (BSM), which makes 51% of its revenue from gypsum products, aims to increase revenue to US$31.5m within the next two years after refocusing on its export markets, mainly India and Myanmar. The company said that the company projects revenue growth of 30%/yr and net profit growth of 50%/yr.
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.
Indian anti-dumping duty for gypsum boards
11 June 2012India: The Revenue Department of India has imposed an antidumping duty of up to US$51.7/m3 on the import of certain type of gypsum boards from China, Indonesia, Thailand and the United Arab Emirates in order to protect domestic players from cheaper shipments.The duty will remain in force for six months.
The restrictive duty was levied after it was recommended by the Directorate General of Antidumping and Allied Duties (DGAD). In its probe the DGAD had concluded that, "the product had been exported to India from the subject countries below associated normal values and the domestic industry had suffered material injury."
The DGAD conducted the probe after a complaint from Saint-Gobain Gyproc India which accounts for about 80% of the domestic production of India's gypsum boards.
During January-December 2010 (the investigation period) imports from the four countries had increased by 194% per cent compared to 2007-08. India has initiated 275 anti-dumping investigations between 1992 and March 2012, involving over imports from more than 40 countries.
New process extracts more gypsum from waste
11 January 2012India: The Central Salt Marine and Chemical Research Institute (CSMCRI) has standardised and internationally patented a novel process of converting discharge emanating from soda ash and salt-making units into value-added products, including the extraction of far more gypsum than previously possible.
"A novel cost-effective process that helps derive three times more gypsum from the distellar waste, emanating from soda ash and salt-making units, using the Solvay Process for production, has been standardised and granted a US patent," said Dr Pushpito Ghosh, director of CSMCRI, which is based at the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR).
The new process has numerous process and environmental benefits for the processing of certain wastes, including the diversion of aqueous wastes from being dumped in the sea. It could also provide a new source of synthetic gypsum.
Saint-Gobain India plans US100m investment
29 September 2011India: Saint-Gobain Gyproc India is planning to strengthen its gypsum business in India with an investment of up to USD100m over the next three years. The company plans to focus more on emerging markets, including India, for future growth.
"Saint-Gobain's gypsum division has said it will focus more on the emerging markets for its future growth and India is one of them. In the next three years, we may invest USD82 –100m to strengthen our operations here", said Saint-Gobain Gyproc India Managing Director V Subramanian. He added that the company will primarily focus on enhancing its existing production capacities besides setting up new facilities in the country.
"We have already invested about USD61m since 2006 and the future investment will be more as the country provides huge opportunity to grow," Subramanian stated. When asked about revenue Subramanian said, "In 2010 we clocked USD82–100m turnover. We are aiming to double this in the next three years."
Successful tests at mixed fibre-glass / gypsum plant
15 September 2011India: Preparations are reported to be 'in full swing' towards the commissioning of a new fibre-glass-reinforced gypsum wallboard and building materials plant at Kochi by Fertilizers and Chemicals Travancore and Rashtriya Chemicals and Fertilizers, Mumbai.
Engineers from Rapid Building Systems, Australia, the technology provider for the project, have been in Kochi over the past month putting the finishing touches to the plant before commercial production begins later in 2011. A test run to produce the large building boards has been successful and further tests are being carried out at present.
Unit coming for Ambalamedu
13 July 2011India: FACT-RCF Building Products Ltd (FRBL), a joint venture between Fertilisers and Chemicals Travancore (FACT) and the Mumbai-based Rashtriya Chemicals and Fertilizers (RCF), is expected to commission its gypsum-based reinforced wall panel and building components plant by September 2011.
The FRBL plant in Ambalamedu, Kerala is worth USD22.43m and is a 50:50 joint venture between the two public sector fertiliser companies. The unit is being built on 12 acres of land at FACT's Ambalamedu site.
According to a statement issued by the FRBL on 29 June 2011, the project is now 97% complete, with all machinery having been erected. The wet gypsum handling section has now been commissioned.
The calciner has been successfully lit up and some plaster was first made during the last week of May 2011. This unit is now fully operational. The start of the commissioning process for the mixing plant is expected towards the end of July 2011.
A team of engineers from Rapid Building Systems, the Australian technology and machinery provider for the project, is expected to arrive in Kochi and take up the commissioning of the wall panel manufacturing unit in September 2011.
The fibreglass reinforced gypsum panels are expected to revolutionise building culture in Kerala. The project originated with the idea of utilising the nearly 6Mt of gypsum stockpiled at the Ambalamedu and Udyogamandal sites owned by FACT.
The fibreglass reinforced panels can replace brick walls and give substantial savings in time and money invested in conventional buildings. Savings in cement, bricks and scarcer resources such as river sand are highlights of the new building component. Construction time can be reduced to about one-fifth of the normal time taken for erecting a conventional building.
The new FRBL unit has a capacity to produce around 39,000 panels, each of 36m2, per year. Interior wall putty and interior wall plaster will be other products from the new joint venture. The plant will require over 0.1Mt/yr of gypsum.