World: Germany-based Knauf and its insulation subsidiary Knauf Insulation have consolidated their online presence with a new website, knauf.com. The site offers access to the group’s entire product range. Knauf said that the shift is intended to help customers to increase their productivity.

Knauf Ibérica marketing and technical director Pablo Maroto said "This new platform reinforces our commitment to innovation and facilitates access to our solutions at a global level."

Oman: The country exported 8.07Mt of gypsum from January 2024 to August 2024, according to data from Zawawi Minerals. Oman exported 11.2Mt in 2023, up by 11% year-on-year from 9.9Mt in 2022.

China: BNBM says that despite issues with the domestic real estate sector demand for wallboard had ‘remained relatively stable’ in the first half of 2024. It attributed this to retrofit activity, government changes to the housing market and infrastructure projects. Its operating income grew by 19% year-on-year from US$1.60bn in the first half of 2023 to US$1.91bn in the first half of 2024. Sales volumes of gypsum wallboard rose by 7% from 1092Mm² to 1168Mm². The company added that overseas sales had grown in the reporting period and its Thailand Gypsum Board project had started construction.

CNBM’s New Materials business division, comprising BNBM and other subsidiaries, saw its sales grow slightly but profit fell. However, CNBM’s group revenue and gross profit fell significantly due to the poor performance of its heavy building materials division.

Europe: Etex has reported a solid financial performance aligned with its 2024 forecasts, despite experiencing market contractions across Europe in the new build and renovation sectors. Revenue fell 4.2% year-on-year to €1.93bn, with a recurring earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation (REBITDA) decrease of 5% year-on-year to €377m. The company’s outlook for the rest of 2024 is a careful and regular evaluation in response to the current volatile market situation.