Gypsum industry news

UK: The Pallet LOOP says that the first batch of its RFID-tagged reusable pallets has entered the UK construction supply chain. This follows its delivery of 30,000 of the pallets to British Gypsum’s Barrow, East Leake and Kirkby Thore gypsum wallboard and plaster plants earlier in May 2024, in partnership with Scott Pallets.

The Pallet LOOP CEO Paul Lewis said "If your business hasn’t already signed up for LOOP collections, now is the time to do so. Our distinctive green reusable pallets are now winging their way across the country, and we want recipients to be ready to send them back to us."

The Pallet LOOP will collect, inspect, repair and redistribute the pallets, paying registered return partners up to €4.69 for each pallet returned.

New Zealand: The government has renamed its Plasterboard Taskforce as the Critical Materials Taskforce and extended its remit to other building materials alongside gypsum wallboard. The expanded taskforce's aim will be to prevent product shortages, with a focus on maximising productivity and cushioning the effects of supply-side dangers. The government foresees further materials shortages amid anticipated 'global trade headwinds.'

Minister for Building and Construction Megan Woods said “While we can be optimistic about the opportunities for our economy, we also need to remain cautious. We know we are facing a period of global turmoil." Woods continued “The Critical Materials Taskforce will build on the successes of the Plasterboard Taskforce, and use the valuable lessons learnt to be proactive and forward-looking, so we can identify emerging risks and respond as quickly as possible. Bringing together construction, building consent and supply chain experts into a taskforce earlier this year showed how government and the sector successfully worked together to troubleshoot plasterboard shortages quickly and pragmatically.”

New Zealand's gypsum wallboard imports grew by a factor of five year-on-year to 4.6Mm² during the first 10 months of 2022. Domestic producer GIB said that it will continue to operate at full production capacity through the 2022 Christmas - New Year period in order to rebuild resilience stock levels. The company continues to make deliveries based on an allocation system. It asked customers to contact their retail suppliers if they have any spare pallets for collection, to help with deliveries.