Gypsum industry news

Canada: The Canada Border Services Agency has started an investigation into gypsum board products being imported from the US. The probe has been initiated by a complaint by CertainTeed Gypsum Canada about the products being imported into British Colombia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba, as well as the Yukon and Northwest Territories, according to the Canadian Press newspaper. It is the second complaint that CertainTeed Gypsum Canada has made in recent years, following a similar allegation in 2016.

In 2016 preliminary tariffs were imposed on US imports and then reduced after being blamed for raising the price of wallboard. The increases were linked to higher costs for domestic customers in Fort McMurray, Alberta following destruction caused by wildfires. The Canadian International Trade Tribunal later ruled that US imports had caused injury to local producers but that maintaining duties would not be in the country's trade interests.

Belarus: Construction of Belgips new 30MM2/yr gypsum wallboard plant in Gatovo, Minsk District is expected to be completed in October 2018. The plant will then take another six months for start-up and commissioning before it starts commercial operation in mid-2019, according to Belarus Daily News. The unit is a joint venture between Russia’s Volma Corporation and Germany’s Knauf.

Canada: Red Moon Resources has submitted a development plan for an open cast gypsum mine at the Ace deposit in western Newfoundland to the government of Newfoundland and Labrador. The project has already received environmental clearance. It is currently attempting to find customers for gypsum and anhydrite from mine. Previously the site was used by the Flat Bay mine, which produced at least 15Mt of gypsum prior to 1990.

Red Moon Resources is an industrial minerals company developing the Ace Gypsum deposit, the Black Bay Nepheline deposit and the Captain Cook Salt deposit in Newfoundland and Labrador. Its majority shareholder is Vulcan Minerals.

Tunisia: Prime minister Youssef Chahed has met with Alexander Knauf, the chairman of Germany’s Knauf. Knauf plans to invest Euro80m and create over 300 jobs in gypsum projects based in the governates of Tataouine and Sidi Bouzid, according to African Manager. Knauf has operated a plaster business in the country since 2004.

US: The commissioners of New Hanover country in North Carolina have approved a US$0.35m incentive package for National Gypsum to open its Wilmington wallboard plant. The package will be offered over five years if the wallboard producer meets benchmarks that include investing US$25m in the plant and hiring at least 51 people at the site, according to the Star News newspaper. The city of Wilmington is also considering offering a package of US$0.23m. However, pollution concerns have been aired at public hearings about re-starting the plant.

US: USG has submitted a purchase application to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to expand its operations for its gypsum quarry at Alabaster, Michigan. The wallboard producer wants to buy 580 acres of state property adjacent to the sitem according to the Associated Press. The DNR says it will study the company's plan, considering issues involving forestry, wildlife, fisheries, recreation and minerals. It also will consult with tribal governments and host a public meeting.

USG founded the Alabaster quarry in 1902 and it employs 20 workers at the site. Customers for gypsum from the mine include LafargeHolcim cement plant in Alpena, Michigan and St Marys Cement’s cement grinding plant in Detroit. It says it wants to expand the quarry in order to extend its life span.

Canada: The British Columbia government has granted an environmental assessment certificate for a 0.4Mt/yr opencast gypsum mine in West Kootenay proposed by CertainTeed Gypsum Canada. Construction of the project is expected to cost US$19m, according to the Canadian Press. Gypsum from the mine will be used to manufacture gypsum wallboard, cement and plaster products.

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.

Russia: Knauf Petroboard and the local government of the Leningrad region have signed a Euro54m deal to upgrade a gypsum wallboard liner plant in Kommunar. Two thirds of the funds will be used to upgrade equipment at the site with the remainder targeted at treatment works, according to the Stroygaz newspaper. Start-up for the equipment is scheduled for the end of 2018. The agreement has been announced as part of the St Petersburg International Economic Forum framework.

Canada: The government has opened its Drywall Support Program for applications until the end of May 2017. This program provides drywall contractors and builders in Western and Northern Canada with compensation for elevated drywall costs due to anti-dumping duties imposed on imported drywall from the US, according to Canadian Newswire. The initiative is also intended to homeowners in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo (RMWB) whose homes were severely damaged or destroyed by the 2016 wildfires and are now facing higher rebuilding costs. The US$9m scheme will be administered by Western Economic Diversification Canada and the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency.