Gypsum industry news

India: The anticipated India-Oman comprehensive economic partnership agreement remains close to signing, BusinessLine Online News has reported. Nonetheless, ‘one issue’ reportedly still requires ‘ironing out.’ This is the Indian government’s rejection of Oman's Omanisation policy, which is continually increasing the proportion of Omani nationals required to be employed in the country’s industries. The Indian government has asked for a freeze to the requirements, which works to the exclusion of the Indian expat community in Oman, it says.

Bilateral trade between India and Oman was worth US$8.9bn in 2024. Gypsum is among the key Indian imports from Oman.

New Zealand: Parliament has passed the Building Act, allowing the import of ‘thousands’ of building products, including gypsum wallboard, insulation and cladding systems. The act allows for cited standards, according to which the Minister for Building Construction will be able to issue a notice to recognise overseas product standards and certification schemes for local use.

Scoop News has reported that the government introduced the bill to help lower prices, following 40% rises since 2019, and to ease shortages.

Kyrgyzstan: The government has informed the World Trade Organisation and the Eurasian Economic Commission of a temporary ban on imports of gypsum boards, tiles and other products. CA-News has reported that the ban will remain in force for six months.

Philippines: Knauf Philippines has asked the Tariff Commission to recommend a new import duty on gypsum wallboard from Thailand, the Manila Times newspaper has reported. Thai wallboard was subject to a provisional anti-dumping duty from November 2024 – March 2025, following a 30% drop in local production from 2022 levels. Meanwhile in Thailand, producers’ capacity utilisation ended 2024 at 57%. As a result, it the industry is attempting to increase its efficiency, maximise its production and possibly target export markets like the Philippines, according to Knauf Philippines.

Director Mark Dewey Sergio said "We have reason to believe that the threat will continue."

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%.

US: The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) says that more than 71% of the US’ total annual imports of gypsum originate in Mexico. The association has highlighted the possibility of ‘scarcity and an acute, sustained rise in building materials costs’ as a result of new tariffs. The US government imposed 25% duties on products from Mexico and fellow North American country, Canada, on 4 March 2025.

NAHB said that it will ‘continue to seek a tariff exemption for building materials.’

Egypt: Industrial House for Building Materials has signed a contract with the General Authority of the Suez Canal Economic Zone to build a new factory in Sinai’s Technology Valley in East Ismailia. Arab Finance News has reported that the producer will invest US$12m to build the plant. When operational, it will produce 4Mm²/yr of gypsum wallboard, 900,000t/yr of plaster and 60m bags annually. Industrial House for Building Materials expects to export 80% of the plant’s total production.

US: Gypsum producers mined 22Mt of natural gypsum in 2024, according to the figures published by the United States Geological Survey (USGS). Production rose by 2% year-on-year from 21.5Mt in 2023. The USGS listed California, Iowa and Kansas as the top producers among 15 gypsum-mining states in the US in 2024. 45 different mines contributed to the total. Major domestic applications for the gypsum included use as raw materials in the country’s 3.16Bnm²/yr-capacity gypsum wallboard industry. The sector sold an estimated 2.6Bnm² of wallboard throughout the year, up by 4% year-on-year.

The US exported 45,000t of natural gypsum during 2024, up by 2% from 44,000t in 2024. Its imports declined year-on-year, meanwhile, by 4%, from 7.77Mt to 7.4Mt – 17% of a total domestic consumption of 44Mt.

Australia: Gypsum supplier Gypsum Resources Australia has joined 24 other organisations in calling on the state government of New South Wales to reconsider a planned relocation of Sydney Harbour’s last working port from Glebe Island in Sydney Harbour to the city of Newcastle, 150km away. The company said that such a move might have ‘severe’ economic repercussions due to increased freight costs and supply chain delays for the Sydney market.

Gypsum Resources Australia General Manager Alistair Kelsh said “We need clarity and certainty for the future, so that we can continue to support Sydney’s construction needs. Shifting Glebe Island port facilities will not just see building projects cost more for consumers and the government, but lead to thousands of extra truck movements on Sydney’s roads.”

Spain: The province of Almería in Andalusia exported €544m-worth of gypsum and limestone in 2024, 10% of its total exports by value. Ideal Online News has reported that this represents a year-on-year drop in exports of the products of 9%.

Regional delegate for Economy, Finance, EU Funds and Industry, Energy and Mining Guillermo Casquet said “Almería continues to strengthen its international position, registering growth in regular exporting companies and maintaining a strong balance of trade.”