Gypsum industry news

US: Data from the United States Geological Survey (USGS) show that the sale of gypsum board products fell by 5% to 1.25Bnm² in the first half of 2023, from 1.31Bnm² in the same period in 2022. The total supply of crude gypsum grew by 9% to 20.4Mt. Notably, supplies of imported and synthetic gypsum increased in the reporting period. However, the USGS noted that on a quarterly basis “...variances are often the result of differences in weather conditions, which can impede or encourage construction activities, coupled with market demands that are often driven by residential and commercial building activity. Use of uncalcined gypsum remained stable, but consumption of calcined gypsum fell by 33% to 7.86Mt, due to reduced utilisation in board products. Spain, Canada and Mexico remained the main sources of import of crude gypsum. However, imports from Türkiye more than doubled to 195,000t.

Spain: The government has established a Euro450m funding line for gas-intensive industries that struggled with high gas prices during 2022. The Boletín Oficial del Estado newspaper has reported that the gypsum industry is among those included. Companies can draw on up to Euro4m in relief. For those which recorded a drop of 30% or greater in earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation, relief of up to Euro25m is available.

Spain: Etex subsidiary Pladur says that its Gelsa gypsum wallboard plant produced 25Mm² of gypsum wallboard during 2022. This corresponds to volume growth of 30% year-on-year. The Heraldo de Aragón newspaper has reported that the 2022 figure corresponds to 83% of its operational capacity of 30Mm²/yr.

The Gelsa gypsum wallboard plant reportedly uses 2 - 4% recycled gypsum in its operations. This corresponds to 4000 - 6000t/yr of gypsum, in line with its own rate of production waste generation. The plant aims to recycle 30,000 - 40,000t/yr of gypsum in 2030.

Spain: Italy-based Fassa Bortolo has announced plans for its upcoming Tarancón gypsum wallboard plant in Cuenca, Castile-La Mancha. The producer says that it plans to invest Euro90m in the project. Local press has reported that the company plans to hire 200 new employees to work at the plant.

US: Total sales of gypsum boards products grew by 2% year-on-year to 1.99Bnm² in the first nine months of 2022, from 1.94Bnm² in the same period in 2021. Sales grew particularly fast in the South Atlantic and East South Central regions, but they fell in the Pacific region. Data from the United States Geological Survey (USGS) shows that the total of uncalcined gypsum used in the reporting period rose by 5% to 15.7Mt and the total of calcined gypsum used increased by 2% to 17.9Mt. The supply of mined crude gypsum fell by 6% to 15.9Mt, imports rose by 1% to 5.11Mt and the supply of synthetic gypsum remained stable at 9.75Mt. Spain became the biggest source of crude gypsum imports so far in 2022 followed by Canada, Mexico and Türkiye.

Spain: France-based Saint-Gobain has signed a power purchase agreement (PPA) with Endesa. The 11-year agreement will start in 2024 and will cover around 55% of Saint-Gobain’s local electricity requirements. Endesa will supply 150GWh/yr of renewable energy. This agreement will enable a reduction in CO₂ emissions of roughly 39,000t/yr. This is the second renewable energy supply agreement signed by Saint-Gobain in Spain. Together, the two agreements will cover 65% of the group’s electricity needs in Spain.

Spain: Knauf has received a 30 year extension to its quarrying permit supporting its Escuzar wallboard plant in Granada. The company also plans to increase production capacity at the unit, according to Europa Press. The plant was established in 2008 and it has a capacity of 50Mm²/yr.

Spain: Saint-Gobain Placo has launched a new technical manual on environmental certifications of buildings. The Saint-Gobain subsidiary says that the manual will help professionals when addressing all certification requirements in Spanish construction. It takes a practical approach and details all processes and evidence necessary for each certificate. The company hopes to advance sustainable development by facilitating more comprehensive planning.

Spain: Saint-Gobain Placo has sent its first load of gypsum for 2021 to Montréal in Canada. The shipment consisted of 80,000t of natural gypsum from the company’s Almería quarry. It said that it previously expanded port facilities at Almería to facilitate shipments of this kind. It added that the shipment ‘consolidates the Almería-Montréal trade route,’ supporting the positioning of the Port of Almería as a strategic axis in international maritime trade.

US: Data from the United States Geological Survey (USGS) shows that national natural gypsum production was 20.5Mt in the US in 2020, down by 5% year-on-year from 21.5Mt in 2019. Synthetic gypsum production remained constant at 14.4Mt and calcined gypsum production fell by 2% to 17.2Mt from 17.5Mt. Crude gypsum exports fell by 13% to 32,200t from 37,000t and calcined gypsum exports fell by 21% to 89,400t from 113,000t.

Domestic calcined gypsum consumption totalled 17.2Mt, down by 1% from 17.4Mt. Calcined gypsum imports rose by 8% to 29,000Mt from 26,900Mt. Crude gypsum consumption also fell, by 3% to 40.9Mt from 42.0Mt. Crude gypsum imports fell by 2% to 6.03Mt from 6.14Mt. Mexico overtook Spain as the leading exporter of crude gypsum to the US in 2020.