Gypsum industry news

Vietnam: Data from the Ministry of Industry and Trade indicates that the chemical and fertiliser sector is generating 1.4Mt/yr of phosphogypsum. It identified Dinh Vu DAP Plant in Hai Phong City, Lao Cai No. 2 DAP Plant and Duc Giang - Lao Cai DAP Plant as the three largest generators of the byproduct, according to the Sài Gòn Giải Phóng newspaper. The high volumes of phosphogypsum being created require large storage areas to be built. However, companies are facing issues expanding storage sites due to environmental regulations.

The Ministry of Construction has proposed establishing accounting regulations for phosphogypsum, ash and slag from fertiliser, chemical and thermoelectric plants. It is also promoting research into using ash, slag and gypsum as replacements for aggregate in road infrastructure projects.

Philippines: The Tariff Commission (TC) will be running public hearings from late March 2025 that will consider implementing a permanent anti-dumping duty on gypsum wallboard imported from Thailand. The import tax is being considered following a petition by Knauf Gypsum Philippines in late 2023, according to the Business Mirror newspaper. In November 2024 the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) imposed a provisional anti-dumping duty in the form of a cash bond for four months until March 2025.

In a government investigation into the situation, the subsidiary of Germany-based Knauf alleged that wallboard was imported from Thailand at ‘dumped’ prices in 2022. Other companies claimed that these imports started to negatively affect the market in 2019, leading to lower revenue and decreased profits.

UK: Etex subsidiary Siniat has inaugurated a new line at its Bristol gypsum wallboard plant in the West of England. The plant will produce 98% of Siniat’s portfolio of wallboard products for the UK and Ireland markets. It will incorporate 45% recycled content in its products, with zero waste to landfill. The company said the upgrade to the plant cost €200m.

Belgium-based Etex says that the inauguration marks its single largest production investment in its history.

Canada: Saint-Gobain Canada has appointed Jean-Claude Lasserre as its CEO, effective 1 April 2025. Lasserre brings over 30 years of experience working for Saint-Gobain across multiple continents, most recently serving as Saint-Gobain Surface Solutions CEO in France. Lasserre succeeds Julie Bonamy, who oversaw US$2.77bn in strategic acquisitions for Saint-Gobain Canada, including of metal products company Bailey Group of Companies, roofing company Building Products of Canada and siding products company Kaycan.

Lasserre said "My primary focus will be to connect with our customers and support our teams as we continue our work to offer a complete portfolio of building products with our recent acquisitions, while reinforcing our commitment to sustainable construction. We are eagerly anticipating the completion of North America's first zero-carbon wallboard plant in Sainte-Catherine, Quebec, and the imminent launch of CarbonLow drywall."

Mexico: Researchers at the National Autonomous University of Mexico have developed Sargapanel, a sargassum seaweed-based alternative wallboard. The team says that Sargapanels can replace traditional gypsum-based boards and tiles in wall and ceiling applications. It can also help to clear Mexico’s Caribbean beaches of the common organic deposit.