Gypsum industry news

Philippines: The Tariff Commission (TC) will be running public hearings from late March 2025 that will consider implementing a permanent anti-dumping duty on gypsum wallboard imported from Thailand. The import tax is being considered following a petition by Knauf Gypsum Philippines in late 2023, according to the Business Mirror newspaper. In November 2024 the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) imposed a provisional anti-dumping duty in the form of a cash bond for four months until March 2025.

In a government investigation into the situation, the subsidiary of Germany-based Knauf alleged that wallboard was imported from Thailand at ‘dumped’ prices in 2022. Other companies claimed that these imports started to negatively affect the market in 2019, leading to lower revenue and decreased profits.

US: The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) says that more than 71% of the US’ total annual imports of gypsum originate in Mexico. The association has highlighted the possibility of ‘scarcity and an acute, sustained rise in building materials costs’ as a result of new tariffs. The US government imposed 25% duties on products from Mexico and fellow North American country, Canada, on 4 March 2025.

NAHB said that it will ‘continue to seek a tariff exemption for building materials.’

India: Representatives of the Indian and Omani government are in a fifth round of talks over a proposed Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement. Under the proposed agreement, the parties would reduce or eliminate customs on goods traded between the Indian Ocean nations. Gypsum is among India’s ‘key imports’ from Oman.

Philippines: The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has placed imports of gypsum wallboard from Thailand under a provisional anti-dumping duty. The Philippines Daily Enquirer newspaper has reported that the duty takes the form of a cash bond and will remain in force until March 2025.

The DTI said there is ‘reasonable cause’ to believe that imported gypsum wallboard from Thailand is being dumped, meaning that it caused ‘material injury’ to domestic producers.

The local gypsum wallboard industry’s share of the domestic market reportedly dropped from 66% in 2022 to 58% in 2023.

Brazil: Trevo Drywall has appointed Paulo César Pereira Alencar as its new CEO. Alencar has 35 years of business experience as a tax lawyer, and holds a law degree from the Regional University of Cariri.

The company additionally appointed Gabriel Rodrigues Granja de Alencar as its chief financial officer. Granja de Alencar previously worked as a director at plaster producer Gesso Trevo, as well as in the area of compliance at consultancy firm Ernst & Young. He holds a postgraduate degree in business management.

US: The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality is receiving public comment on its revised 2021 Climate Protection Program, under which natural gas users, including gypsum wallboard producers, will face tighter emissions regulations. The programme will enable plants to buy credits for emissions above regulation level, with the money raised primarily going to fund community-based projects. Local press has reported that the revised rules aim to help realise a 50% reduction in CO₂ emissions by 2035 and a 90% reduction by 2050. The latest revision also shortens companies’ compliance period from three years to two.

Asia: India’s new anti-dumping duty on imports of gypsum wallboard from China and Oman will remain in force for the five-year period up to the end of 2028. The Hitavada newspaper has reported that the duty also applies to gypsum tiles.

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.

China/US: China’s Ministry of Commerce has proposed placing retaliatory tariffs on products from the US, including gypsum and gypsum products. The list covers 5207 items and proposes adding import taxes of up to 25% on them. It includes gypsum and gypsum wallboard. The ministry said that the new tariffs will take effect at a date to be announced later on.

US/China: The Office of the US Trade Representative has proposed placing a 10% tariff on mineral products from China, including gypsum products. The list includes over 600 items and it will come into force after a period for public comment in August 2018.

Mineral products affected by the proposed tariffs of interest to the gypsum wallboard industry include gypsum, anhydrite and plaster products made from calcined gypsum or calcium sulphate. Lime, cements and additives for cements, mortars and concretes are also affected.

The inclusion of additional products to a tariff list follows an earlier decision by the US government to tax imports from China worth US$34bn that came into force in early July 2018.