Global Gypsum Newsletter

Issue: GGM64 / 01 May 2025

Headlines


India: Coromandel International has approved an equity infusion of up to US$7.68m in its wholly owned subsidiary Coromandel Chemicals to explore joint venture opportunities for the production of gypsum-based building materials. Capital Market News has reported that the move forms part of the company's long-term diversification strategy.


Spain: Knauf has expanded its Cradle to Cradle (C2C) Silver certification to ‘nearly all’ gypsum wallboard and metal profiles produced at its Escúzar and Guixers gypsum wallboard plants. The C2C certification evaluates product sustainability across five categories: material safety, circularity, emissions, water and soil management and social equity. Interempresas – Construcción News has reported that it requires renewal every two years.

Marketing and Technical Director Pablo Maroto called for a transition from linear to circular building products.


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.


Spain: Wallboard liner manufacturer Alier has won €9.6m in European Regional Development Fund funding for an upcoming recycled paper plant in the Lopez Soriano Recycling Technology Park in Zaragoza. Spanish Collection News has reported that the plant forms part of the Gypsum Board 5.0 circular wallboard project. Alier expects to invest €40m in the project altogether.


UK: Adaptavate has formed a strategic partnership with lime producer SigmaRoc to industrially scale production of its Breathaboard calcium carbonate-based wallboard, with 4kg/m²-reduced CO₂ emissions. The partners will collaborate on the establishment of a supply chain throughout Europe. Additionally, they have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for an upcoming industrial demonstrator plant project.

Adaptavate concluded its €3.16m pre-Series A funding round on 23 April 2025, with investments from SigmaRoc via its venture capital platform Skreenhouse Ventures.


Russia: The Norilsk Nickel Company has begun excavations at the Mokulayevsky limestone mine in Talnakh. World Service Wire News has reported that the mine will supply limestone for a newly expanded flue gas desulphurisation installation at the company’s Nadezhda metallurgical plant in Norilsk, Krasnoyarsk Krai. The installation will generate gypsum from 0.9Mt/yr of captured SO2 emissions.

Arctic Development Project Office Expert Council Coordinator Alexander Vorotnikov said that the development will help to establish locally-sourced gypsum as a commercially-viable building product in this area of Siberia.


Canada: USG subsidiary CGC has begun the process of hiring employees to fill 100 roles at its Wheatland gypsum wallboard plant, scheduled to commence operations in 2026. The plant will produce CGC’s Sheetrock wallboard panels for the Western Canada market.

Plant manager Duane VanDuuren said “What will ultimately drive our success here is our people. The people we hire today will play a key role in creating the homes, workplaces and infrastructure of tomorrow in this region.”


Albania: UK-based Eco Buildings Group says that it has produced 16,200m2 of glass fibre-reinforced gypsum panels for delivery under a €4m deal with a modular construction company. Alliance News has reported that the customer is still completing foundation work for the relevant project.

CEO Sanjay Bowry said "Our ability to produce 16,200m2 of modular walls under single-shift operations not only demonstrates our excellent operational effectiveness but also sets the stage for even greater production capacity."

Eco Buildings Group has secured sales contracts in Albania and Kosovo worth up to €114m. It is reportedly seeking to diversifying its customer base to include construction firms working on larger, non-modular projects.


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.


France: Siniat has announced the forthcoming launch of its RECYPLAC 100% recycled gypsum wallboard in July 2025. Siniat developed the product at a pilot line at its Carpentras plant in Vaucluse and will now start to produce it at its Ottmarsheim plant in Haut-Rhin.

Siniat’s parent company Etex says that it is the European leader in the use of recycled gypsum, with some gypsum wallboard plants already producing over 35% recycled wallboard. Group recycled gypsum use rose by 34% between 2018 and 2024.


China: Beijing New Building Materials (BNBM) raised its revenues from its gypsum wallboard business in 2024, with a 56% rise in gross profit. The group says that it continues to strengthen its gypsum wallboard market presence. Home renovations have now risen to 35% of business sales. Taishan Gypsum increased its share of BNBM’s high-end product sales to over 2%.

Gypsum wallboard projects in Thailand and Bosnia & Herzegovina are under implementation ‘in an orderly manner’ in line with BNBM’s focus on increasing operational strength in South-East Asia, Central Asia, Periphery Middle East and Mediterranean-Europe.


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."


Pakistan: The government will launch its first ever National Minerals Harmonisation Framework for 2025 on 8 April 2025. The aim of the framework is to streamline and standardise mining regulations across provinces and territories, with a view to attracting investments. It will include tax incentives, fast-tracked licensing and a dispute resolution mechanism. The News International has reported that provincial governments collaborated in drawing up the framework.


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%.


Ukraine: Knauf Gips Ukraine has bought guarantees of origin for its electricity through Ukraine’s National Electronic Register. The guarantees confirm the sources of the company’s energy in Ukraine. Newsbase Daily News has reported that this will form the basis for future development of the country’s renewable energy market. Ukrainian authorities have previously attempted two green energy auctions, both of which failed due to investor concerns over the guaranteed buyers’ financial obligations and regulatory instability.

Power provider Elementum Energy Manager Olga Rybachuk said “The first investors in new projects will be those already in the market and familiar with the risks. Newcomers rely on their assessments. Green auctions are an important tool, but credit risk remains a critical factor.”