Gypsum industry news

UK: Etex subsidiary Siniat has inaugurated a new line at its Bristol gypsum wallboard plant in the West of England. The plant will produce 98% of Siniat’s portfolio of wallboard products for the UK and Ireland markets. It will incorporate 45% recycled content in its products, with zero waste to landfill. The company said the upgrade to the plant cost €200m.

Belgium-based Etex says that the inauguration marks its single largest production investment in its history.

Russia: Türkiye-based Parget Makina has begun construction of a plaster plant for Litox under an engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract.

In a post to LinkedIn, Parget Makina General Director Cevdet Karaibrahimoğlu said that the site of the project is in Southern Russia, where Litox is a leading producer of plaster and dry mixes.

Spain: Aminsa says that it will resume mining at its Villanasur Río de Oca gypsum quarry in Castile and León later in 2025. Local press has reported that the move aims to meet increased demand from Ireland-based James Hardie’s nearby Orejo fibre gypsum panel plant, which is undergoing an expansion.

Kyrgyzstan: A new gypsum wallboard plant has begun construction in Dostuk, Jalal-Abad Region, according to the Ministry of Economy and Commerce. CA-News has reported that the upcoming plant is the outcome of an agreement signed between Mega Union Industry and China-based Hengshui Decheng Machinery & Equipment in 2024.

Egypt: Industrial House for Building Materials has signed a contract with the General Authority of the Suez Canal Economic Zone to build a new factory in Sinai’s Technology Valley in East Ismailia. Arab Finance News has reported that the producer will invest US$12m to build the plant. When operational, it will produce 4Mm²/yr of gypsum wallboard, 900,000t/yr of plaster and 60m bags annually. Industrial House for Building Materials expects to export 80% of the plant’s total production.

Romania: Knauf Gips has received authorisation from local authorities for the construction of its planned Huedin gypsum wallboard plant in Cluj County. Economica News has reported that the plant will also produce metal profiles.

Germany-based Knauf previously announced its plans for a 35Mm²/yr gypsum wallboard plant in Huedin, but delayed them in 2009. It then announced new plans for a €76m plant in 2022.

Ukraine: Knauf Ukraine says that equipment is already in place for its upcoming 30Mm²/yr Ternopil gypsum wallboard plant at Borschiv, construction of which began in December 2024. Business World Magazine News has reported that the company imported the equipment from the site of a dismantled plant in Southern Germany.

Ukraine: Knauf Ukraine has begun building its upcoming US$150m, 30Mm²/yr Ternopil gypsum wallboard plant in Ukraine, at Borshchiv in South Ukraine. Ukrainska Pravda News has reported that the plant will also produce 320,000t/yr of dry building mixes. Knauf Ukraine already operates a gypsum mine near the site.

Knauf Ukraine’s existing 25Mm²/yr gypsum wallboard and 200,000t/yr dry mix plant in Kyiv, Central Ukraine, employs 425 people, over 200 of them resituated from Knauf’s former Soledar operations in Russian-occupied Eastern Ukraine.

Saudi Arabia: National Gypsum Company has signed a US$9.32m financing agreement with Riyad Bank. Mubasher News has reported that the loan will support expansions to its gypsum wallboard plants. The financing commenced on 5 January 2025, with a tenor of 18 months.

Cameroon: Cimpor and the government of Cameroon have signed an agreement to set up a gypsum plant in Kribi, South Cameroon. TCTBC News has reported the investment value of the plant as US$62.5m. The Cameroon Investment Promotion Agency and the Cameroon Türkiye Business Council facilitated the agreement.