Gypsum industry news

China: BNBM says that despite issues with the domestic real estate sector demand for wallboard had ‘remained relatively stable’ in the first half of 2024. It attributed this to retrofit activity, government changes to the housing market and infrastructure projects. Its operating income grew by 19% year-on-year from US$1.60bn in the first half of 2023 to US$1.91bn in the first half of 2024. Sales volumes of gypsum wallboard rose by 7% from 1092Mm² to 1168Mm². The company added that overseas sales had grown in the reporting period and its Thailand Gypsum Board project had started construction.

CNBM’s New Materials business division, comprising BNBM and other subsidiaries, saw its sales grow slightly but profit fell. However, CNBM’s group revenue and gross profit fell significantly due to the poor performance of its heavy building materials division.

Peru: France-based Saint-Gobain has submitted a technical report for a proposed upgrade to its Huachipa facility. The project aims to optimise production and secure compliance with environmental regulations. Noticias Financieras News has reported that the work will cost US$259,000 and take up to eight weeks complete.

Australia: Saint-Gobain subsidiary CSR plans to expand its Welshpool gypsum wallboard plant in Western Australia. The producer plans to upgrade the plant’s production line and expand warehouses that serve it and the neighbouring Bradford building materials plant. CSR said that the upgrade to the Welshpool wallboard plant will reduce its consumption of natural gas and electricity and facilitate its transition to alternative fuels or electricity.

CEO Paul Dalton said "This significant investment will make Welshpool safer and more sustainable, increase capacity and improve productivity and cost efficiency, all while removing risk from our supply chain.”

Türkiye: Arslanlı has commissioned its new Elazığ gypsum wallboard plant in Eastern Anatolia. ERBA Makina supplied equipment for the plant’s production line. In a post to LinkedIn, ERBA Makina project manager Kadir Ünlü said that the line has a capacity of 30m²/min.

Romania: Saint-Gobain Romania has inaugurated a new line at its Turda gypsum wallboard plant in Cluj County. Romania-Insider News has reported that the line cost €50m. The company had previously announced anticipated total investments €45m. All gypsum wallboard produced in the line will come with environmental product declarations (EPDs). Saint-Gobain Romania will employ an additional 100 people to work on the line, raising its total number of employees by 5% to 2000 people across 14 sites.

Saint-Gobain Romania CEO Ovidiu Pascutiu said "This new line, operating at optimal parameters, marks a significant step towards enhancing our production efficiency and expanding our product range to better serve our growing customer base."

Canada: USG subsidiary CGC has begun construction of its upcoming Wheatland gypsum wallboard plant in Alberta. The plant will be equipped with a captive solar power plant, and designed for maximum energy and water efficiency.

USG CEO Chris Griffin said "Today's groundbreaking marks a significant win for CGC operations in Western Canada and for our ambitious growth plans in Canada more broadly. This project underscores our commitment to being the best wallboard manufacturer to do business with, particularly as builders, governments and communities across Alberta and the West work to expand housing starts, accessibility and affordability."

Canada: Wheatland County Municipal Planning Commission has granted Canadian Gypsum Company permission to build a gypsum wallboard plant in Wheatland, Alberta. The Canadian Press has reported that the company, along with Invest Alberta Corporation and the government of Alberta, will invest US$153m in the project.

UK: Adaptavate has inaugurated its first pilot line to produce Breathaboard bio-based alternative wallboard. Breathaboard performs in the same way as ordinary gypsum wallboard, but sequesters and avoids additional CO₂ emissions, reducing the board’s total carbon footprint by 4kg/m². Adaptavate's production process uses fibrous and cellulosic by-products from agricultural crops, combined with minerals. It has a minimal water footprint and does not require natural gas.

Chief technical officer Jeff Ive said "The commissioning of our pilot line is the culmination of a year's hard work. We knew the solution had to be scalable for significant impact. With full-size boards produced on a continuously extruded process, we’re turning our vision into reality. This pilot line is a game changer for us, our industry, and the planet, laying the foundation for global replication of our core innovation."

Canada: Canadian Gypsum Company (CGC) plans to build a US$155m gypsum wallboard plant in Wheatland County, Alberta. The producer has acquired 86.6 hectares of land near the town of Carseland. It will also use the site for a 15MW solar power plant. CGC has hired Duane Van Duuren as the upcoming plant’s general manager.

Van Duuren said "The solar field will be more than enough to support our energy needs with clean power, and so this is really exciting for our company. We want to bring the best products to Western Canada and be a great community member both socially and environmentally.”

Morocco: Compagnie Marocaine de Plâtre et d’Enduit (CMPE), a joint venture of Knauf and Groupe Safari Maroc, has announced plans for a new gypsum wallboard production facility in Sidi-Tiji, Marrakech–Asfi Region. CMPE expects that the plant will generate 100 direct and over 500 indirect jobs.

Groupe Safari Maroc CEO Saïda Lamrani Karim and Knauf general partner Jörg Kampmeyer said "Our investment decision in a new plasterboard plant shows our trust in the growth of the Moroccan market and will strengthen the leading position of CMPE.” They added “This investment aligns with the Moroccan government's guidance to reduce imports and develop a competitive local industry of excellence. With our new production, we will supply the Moroccan market and export to Sub-Saharan markets."