Gypsum industry news

US: USG's net sales have risen by 5% year-on-year to US$1.97bn in the first half of 2016 from US$1.90bn in the same period in 2015. The company's net income rose by 37% to US$141m from US$103m. Net sales for its overall gypsum business rose by 6% to US$1.27bn from US$1.19bn. However, net sales for its gypsum business in Mexico and Latin America fell by 3% to US$93m in the first half of 2016 from US$94m in the same period of 2015.

"Our focus on operational execution in all of our businesses drove our improved second quarter results," said James S Metcalf, Chairman, President, and CEO of USG. "Expanding operating margins is a key priority for USG, and we delivered margin expansion in all of our businesses in the second quarter."

Saudi Arabia: National Gypsum Company has reported that its net profit fell by 64% year-on-year to US$1.5m in the first half of 2016, from US$4.2m in the same period in 2015. Its net profit for the second quarter of 2016 fell more sharply, dropping by 80% to US$573,000.

US: Eagle Materials' sales revenue from gypsum wallboard has fallen slightly by 1.6% year-on-year to US$113m in the first quarter of its 2017 financial year that ended on 30 June 2016 from US$115m in the same period in 2015. Overall company revenue rose by 1.5% to US$298m from US$285m. Gypsum wallboard sales volumes rose by 2% to 54Mm² from 53Mm².

India: Engineering company Essar Projects has won a US$44.7m contract from the Indian Farmers Fertilizer Co-operative (IFFCO) to build a phosphogypsum stack at its Paradip plant in Odisha, India's largest phosphatic fertiliser complex.
The project has two phases. Phase I, which is valued at about US$28m, involves completion of approximately 60% of the total construction and must be completed in 20 months. The second phase involves construction of the remaining 40% and will have to be completed in 10 months. Essar Projects has completed three projects for IFFCO Paradip to date.

"The fact that this is our fourth major back-to-back project with IFFCO, is a reflection of the customer's confidence in our capabilities. We are pleased to say that we have already delivered some key works of the current contract that had to be completed before the onset of the monsoon," said AV Amarnath, COO, Essar Projects.

US: The Gypsum Association has been designated a Preferred Provider under the International Code Council (ICC) Preferred Provider Program (PPP). The Gypsum Association already is an American Institute of Architects (AIA) Continuing Education System (CES) Provider.

The ICC PPP provides building code officials and others with education related to codes, standards, and guidelines, as well as building construction materials, products and methods. The Gypsum Association intends to provide online education for its GA-600 Fire Resistance Design Manual, a publication offering fire resistive designs referenced by model building codes.