Gypsum industry news

UAE: The government of the Emirate of Ras Al Khaimah has launched Ras Al Khaimah Minerals, an investment company for the minerals and metals industries. The Arabian Post newspaper has reported that the government aims to leverage Ras Al Khaimah's natural resources, including gypsum, to attract local and foreign investors. This will help to diversify its economy away from oil and gas.

UAE: The wallboard recycling unit at Saint-Gobain Gyproc’s Abu Dhabi gypsum wallboard plant has processed 22,000t of gypsum since 2014, the L'Usine Nouvelle newspaper has reported. The producer said that the Abu Dhabi plant can incorporate 10 – 12% recycled materials in its gypsum wallboard production. It runs on a diversified energy supply, which in its most recent recorded month included 55% nuclear, 38% natural gas and 7% solar energy.

In 2023, Saint-Gobain reduced its non-recycled waste by 78% year-on-year and its water footprint by 14% from 2017 levels in the UAE.

UAE: Gypsemna says that it has added a new gypsum wallboard systems line at its 50Mm²/yr Musaffah gypsum wallboard plant in Abu Dhabi. The Musaffah plant is the largest gypsum wallboard plant in the Gulf region.

India: The government has imposed an anti-dumping duty on imports of calcined gypsum from China, Iran, Oman, Saudi Arabia and the UAE. The Press Trust of India newspaper has reported that the duty will remain in place for the duration of the five-year period ending on 31 December 2026. The Commerce Ministry said that the duty’s aim is to guard local suppliers against the impacts of below-cost imports in accordance with World Trade Organisation (WTO) regulations.

India: The government has extended an anti-dumping duty on imports of gypsum wallboard from China, Indonesia, Thailand and the UAE to protect local producers. Saint-Gobain India asked for an extension of the duty on the imports of the boards from these four countries, according to the Press Trust of India. The tariff was originally implemented in 2013 at US$73.8/m² to run until 7 June 2017. It has now been extended to 6 June 2018.

UAE: Mustafa Furnishing Industries, FZC, a manufacturer of carpet and wood furniture, has announced plans to open a gypsum wallboard plant in Sharjah Airport Free Zone (SAIF Zone). The US$6m project will be constructed over an area of 1000m².

Waseem Ahsan Chaudhary, Managing Director and owner of the group, said, "The construction of the new factory will begin within two months and production will commence by the end of 2015."

UAE: Gyproc Middle East has launched a new wallboard that actively removes volatile organic compounds (VOC) from the air in indoor environments. Activ'Air board incorporates a mineral-based additive into its gypsum core that captures VOCs such as toxic formaldehyde and converts them into harmless inert aldehydes.

"Initial discussions with building owners and developers have shown there is already significant interest for these products in the education and healthcare sectors," said technical development manager Jason Hird. Gyproc Middle East is marketing the product as a sustainable and cost-effective alternative to traditional powered air filters. The new technology is available across a range of existing Gyproc products.