Gypsum industry news

US: The US construction industry is reportedly bracing for heightened labour shortages amid on-going federal enforcement actions against suspected illegal immigrants. Forbes has reported that sections of the workforce are ‘shaken,’ with some builders at one San Francisco firm avoiding certain tasks or not coming to work at all. Authorities have already deported three of the firm’s workers.

The National Association of Home Builders has proposed a new visa programme for construction workers and supportive pathways to legal residency for those already working in the industry. 61% of gypsum wallboard installers in the US were born in other countries.

The on-going US construction labour shortage reportedly cost the industry US$10.8bn in 2024, reducing new single-family homebuilding by 19,000 units.

US: The Gypsum Association has appointed Christian Chinsio as its new Director of Codes, Standards and Research. Chinsio has 28 years’ experience in management and technical roles in the building materials industry. He is Technical Development Manager at CertainTeed Gypsum, with responsibility over product rationalisation, competitive testing and quality improvements across plants nationwide. He previously represented CertainTeed Gypsum on the Gypsum Association's Building Code and Technical Committee. Other prior management roles include positions at Continental Building Products and Lafarge North America.

Gypsum Association Executive Director Steve Meima said "Christian's 28 years of building products manufacturing experience, the past 25 being specific to gypsum panel and gypsum products manufacturing, is sure to serve well the interests of our members and the technical information needs of architectural, engineering and construction professionals."

US: Eagle Materials recorded sales of US$2.3bn in the 2025 financial year, which ended on 31 March 2025. This corresponds to a rise of less than 1% year-on-year. Group net earnings were US$463m, down by 3%.

In the Light Materials segment, revenues rose by less than 1% to US$2.26bn. This was driven by increased recycled paperboard sales volumes and prices. Gypsum wallboard sales volumes were 279Mm², up slightly year-on-year. They rose in price by 1%, to US$2.54/m². As a result, revenues from gypsum wallboard reached US$846m, up by 0.8% from US$840m in the 2024 financial year.

US: Georgia-Pacific has released its 2024 Stewardship Report, highlighting progress across five operational pillars: Challenge, Connect, Conserve, Contribute and Control. Under the Contribute pillar of responsible products, Georgia-Pacific noted the launch of its DensDeck gypsum roofing panels, which are designed to be able to support solar panel installations on commercial buildings. Meanwhile, under the Control pillar of impact mitigation, Georgia-Pacific noted the implementation of a No Idling policy for trucks at its Sweetwater plant in Texas.

The company’s SO₂ emissions fell by 26,000t (75%) in the 14-year period since 2010, with further reductions planned.

Georgia-Pacific has historically published a full Sustainability Report along with its results for full financial years, ending 31 March.

US: Workers have walked out of Saint-Gobain CertainTeed’s Blue Diamond gypsum plant in Nevada after rejecting the company's final contract offer. The International Brotherhood of Teamsters has reported that 70 of the plant’s employees will participate in the action in protest against the contract offer, which fell ‘way short of acceptable.’

US: Paul Johnson Drywall (PJD) has acquired the assets of gypsum wallboard supply and installation contractor Advanced Drywall Systems. Advanced Drywall Systems serves New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Its entire team will stay on as part of PJD.

Advanced Drywall Systems director David Bedo noted the growth opportunities presented by the acquisition, adding "We are most excited about the opportunity to deliver the market-leading service that Advanced Drywall Systems is known for to more of the region's homebuilders."

North America: Saint-Gobain North America has won a Silver Stevie Award in the Large Manufacturing Company of the Year category for its circularity initiatives, rapid growth and commitment to US industrial development. 3BL News has reported that the company will claim the prize at the 23rd annual American Business Awards ceremony in New York City later in 2025.

The recognition comes as Saint-Gobain celebrates its 360-year anniversary. It has invested a combined US$400m in plant expansions and upgrades scheduled to come online in 2025, including building North America’s first carbon-neutral gypsum wallboard plant at its Montreal facility in Quebec, Canada.

US: The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection has launched the Waste Reduction Innovation Grant (WRIG) initiative. The initiative will provide funding between US$50,000 and US$100,000 for up to 10 recycling projects and between US$500,000 and US$2m for up to four further projects. Gypsum wallboard is among the recyclables eligible for funding, along with other building materials like bitumen felt shingles and wood.

Construction & Demolition Recycling News has reported that the WRIG initiative supports Massachusetts’ Solid Waste Master Plan to reduce landfill by 30% by 2030 and by 90% by 2050.

US: Georgia-Pacific has appointed Julie Howard as president of its Gypsum business. The position will require Howard to oversee 3000 employees across sites including 12 gypsum units across the US, producing 465Mm²/yr of wallboard.

Howard has served as Vice President and General Manager, Paper Towels and Napkins, since 2017, and previously served in management roles in various businesses since joining the company in 2007. Before that, she worked for chemicals company Solenis and asset management company GATC. She also served as a graduate assistant to the Economic Forecasting Center at Georgia State University in Atlanta, where she completed her Master’s in Business Administration. Howard holds a bachelor’s degree in German and International Studies, which she completed at Ohio University in Athens and Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz in Germany.

US/Canada: The costs of construction of new single-family homes are set to rise by US$7500 – 10,000/unit, according to the National Association of Home Builders. This is due to the government’s introduction of a new 25% tariff on Canadian gypsum wallboard and its raising of the tariff on softwood lumber to the same level from 14.5%.