Gypsum industry news

World: Research firm HTF Market Intelligence has projected 6.2% compound annual growth in the value of global sales of gypsum wallboard and plaster between 2024 and 2032. This would lead to a 54% rise over the eight-year period, from US$55bn to US$85bn.

US: GMS raised its sales by 3.5% year-on-year to US$1.5bn in the second quarter of the 2025 financial year. The producer noted volumes growth and ‘resilient or improved’ pricing across its product categories, with gypsum wallboard accounting for 39% of total sales. It recorded an impact of US$20m in reduced sales due to Hurricanes Helene and Milton, primarily impacting the single-family residential market. Adjusted earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) fell by 11% to US$152m.

GMS said that an ‘attractive capital structure’ helped it to achieve its strategic priorities in the quarter, including expanding its market share for its core products.

Kenya: Gypsum traders in Garissa have called on the government to lift a ban on gypsum mining in the country. The ban also prevents land allocation and demarcation. The Star newspaper has reported that it resulted from a perceived security threat due to violence at local mines, in which 12 people have died.

Mine owner Issa Kuno invited Cabinet Secretary for Mining, Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs Hassan Joho to visit. He said “Personally, I have never experienced or witnessed any insecurity related to gypsum mining activities."

Natural gypsum mined in Garissa County previously sold for US$38.60/t.

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.

Canada: CGC is holding a series of meetings between 5 November and 3 December 2024 in which to discuss the possible impacts of its upcoming Wheatland wallboard manufacturing plant in Alberta with the local community. The Canadian Press News has reported that 100 jobs will be created at the plant. Hiring will commence in early 2025, prior to the plant’s commissioning later in 2024.

Plant manager Duane Van Douren said "We are focused on making sure that the communities around us are well aware of who CGC is, and providing information about our plant and the build that is happening on our site right now, which started back in early spring 2024 and is progressing very quickly.”

CGC reportedly told the Toronto Sun newspaper that current anti-dumping measures have reduced the availability of gypsum wallboard in Canada by 65Mm² cumulatively since 2016. As a result, extant gypsum wallboard stocks are sufficient only to build 220,000 homes.

South Africa: Raubex recorded sales of US$617m in the first half of the 2025 financial year, following ‘strong performances’ across all divisions. This corresponds to a 30% year-on-year rise. Operating profit also grew, by 35%, to US$47.7m.

Raubex’s gypsum, concrete and aggregates subsidiary OMV performed ‘well,’ according to the parent company. It attributed the performance to a growth in the local construction industry.

US: Eagle Materials grew its sales in the first half of the 2025 financial year, which began on 1 April 2024, by 0.7% year-on-year. This resulted in revenues of US$1.23bn for the six-month period. The company’s earnings before interest and taxation (EBIT) also rose, by 1.5% year-on-year to US$378m. Its gypsum wallboard segment generated revenues of US$433m, up by 1%, with 1% growth in volumes, to 140Mm².

President and CEO Michael Haack said “Eagle’s portfolio of businesses continued to perform well, despite ongoing adverse weather during the second quarter of the present financial year. We used our strong cashflow to continue advancing our long-term growth and value-creation strategies. We remain optimistic about our near-term and future opportunities and confident in our ability to execute on them. The current economic environment is constructive for our businesses. Employment is strong, recent inflation data should support a more accommodative monetary environment, spending from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act is still in the beginning phases and housing supply remains chronically short because of decade-long production deficits.”

US: GMS recorded first-quarter sales of US$1.4bn in the 2025 financial year, which began on 1 April 2024. This corresponds to a 3% year-on-year rise from first-quarter 2024 financial year levels. Group adjusted earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) dropped by 16% to US$146m. During the reporting period, GMS increased its gypsum wallboard sales by 3%, to US$588m. It reported an overall rise in sales volumes, buoyed by 4% growth in single-family residential construction, offsetting declines in multi-family residential and commercial construction. President and CEO John Turner nonetheless announced a new US$25m/yr costs reduction programme, due to on-going ‘market pressures.’

Turner said "We continued to focus on the execution of our strategic pillars and adapting to shifting end-market demand, and are managing costs more firmly across the business. We believe the market pressures we faced this quarter will likely persist over the next several quarters, at least until the expected reduction in interest rates can positively impact demand for our products.”

Japan: Circular economy company TRE Holdings, a joint holding company of Takeei Corporation and River Holdings, raised its sales by 17% year-on-year to US$175m in the first quarter of the 2025 financial year. Its pre-tax profit was US$16.7m, up by 82% year-on-year. Gypsum wallboard recycling subsidiaries Green Arrows and Gypro reported a decline in sales and profit amid ‘sluggish’ order volumes.

For the full 2025 financial year, TRE Holdings expects to record sales of US$673m, up by 7%, and pre-tax profit of US$53.7m, up by 2%, in line with its previous outlook.

US: Eagle Materials raised its sales in the first quarter of the 2025 financial year to US$609m, up by 1% year-on-year. Its adjusted earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) grew by 5% to US$225m. The group’s Light Materials segment raised its sales by 2%, to US$248m, 41% of group sales. Its operating earnings grew by 5%, to US$103m. A rise in gypsum wallboard prices offset a 1% decline in sales volumes to 70.3Mm² of wallboard, while paperboard sales volumes rose by 10% to 91,000t. The segment also reported a drop in operating costs, including for energy.

CEO Michael Haack said “Our portfolio of businesses continued to perform well, despite adverse weather conditions during the quarter across many of our core markets. Underlying fundamentals in our markets continue to be favourable, and we expect demand for our products to remain steady for the balance of the year. In addition, despite some interest-rate sensitivity, residential construction activity remains resilient, given chronic housing-supply shortages and continued underlying demand strength. Our well-positioned balance sheet, significant cash flow generation and consistent, disciplined operational and strategic execution through shifting economic cycles position Eagle for another strong fiscal year."