Gypsum industry news

UK: Belgian-based Etex has announced plans for a new gypsum wallboard plant in Portbury, near the Port of Bristol, to be commissioned in 2022. Its construction will cost Euro162m. Etex CEO Paul Van Oyen said the development ‘will strengthen our position in the UK – Europe’s largest plasterboard market – where there is a chronic housing shortage.’ Etex already serves the UK construction industry from its two gypsum plasterboard plants in Bristol and Ferrybridge.

Belgium: Etex has recorded a first-half net recurring profit of Euro100m, up by 6.3% year-on-year from Euro94.1m in the same period of 2018. Paul Van Oyen, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Etex, noted the role of ‘strong market demand, mostly driven by the Building Performance division’ in driving the company’s growth. Only its Etex Exteriors division, launched on 1 January 2019, has not shown net profitability. Etex’s financial debt has decreased by Euro181m to Euro538m from Euro719m on 30 June 2018.

Belgium: Etex’s Building Performance division’s sales rose by 6.9% year-on-year to Euro1.65bn in 2018. It attributed this growth to the good performance of gypsum wallboard sales in most territories and especially in France, the UK and Central & Eastern Europe. However, challenging market conditions and competition were reported in Germany. Overall, the group’s revenue rose by 4.1% to Euro2.9bn from Euro2.78bn. Its earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation (EBTIDA) fell by 9.5% to Euro391m from Euro432m. Issues with negative exchange rate effects and hyperinflation in Argentina were reported.

Romania: France’s Fives has supplied a new FCB TSV1600 MF for Etex’s calcined gypsum grinding plant in Aghires. The project is part of an upgrade to the unit to close the existing open circuit. Commissioning took place in late January 2019.

Belgium: Gyproc Belgium has installed a new mill to grind natural gypsum at its Kallo wallboard plant. The unit will continue to use flue gas desulphurisation (FGD) gypsum sourced from coal-fired power stations but the company is preparing for future changes in supply, according to the HLN newspaper.

Belgium: Etex’s Building Performance division’s sales revenue rose by 5.35% year-on-year to Euro1.53bn in 2017 from Euro1.45bn in 2016. Strong performance in the UK, France and Germany contributed to this result in Europe. In Latin America growing markets were noted in Argentina, Brazil and Peru. The group acquired full control of Spanish gypsum wallboard manufacturer Pladur in 2017.

Overall, the group reported that its revenue rose by 4.5% on a like-for-like basis to Euro2.79bn across all business lines. Its earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation rose by 7% to Euro432m from Euro404m.

Belgium: Serge Azais has retired from Knauf Group. The 67-year old’s most recent posting was as the chief executive officer (CEO) for the Western Europe and Latin America Region. He has been succeeded by Dominique Bossan, a French national, who was previously responsible for the development of the Central Europe Region for Knauf Insulation.

Azais was successively the Managing Director of Isolava in Belgium, then Managing Director of Knauf Belgium before joining the Knauf Group Management Committee in 2010. Azaïs also took over responsibility for the European Gypsum Industry as president of Eurogypsum in 2006 and 2007. He retires after spending more than 40 years in the plaster industry, including 27 years with the Knauf Group.

Belgium/US: MoistTech and Belgium’s Weighing & Inspection have announced a strategic partnership to provide moisture measurement capabilities for manufactured materials to customers in the Benelux region. The partnership is intended to improve productivity and streamline operations for customers by implementing near-infrared (NIR) technology for moisture measurement and control. An initial primary focus will be developing a joint marketing capability.

“MoistTech is excited to partner with Weighing & Inspection to enhance our delivery of new features to the moisture measurement industry. This will enable us to become more efficient and reduce costs for a larger audience,” said Adrian Fordham, President of MoistTech.

Belgium: Etex has reported 'top line' growth for its Etex Building Performance division, particularly in France, Poland, and the UK. Outside of Europe the group said that its South Africa market is suffering from political instability whilst sales in Peru grew, thanks to a new housing concept that was successfully launched.

Overall the group's half-year revenue rose by 3.9% year-on-year on an adjusted basis to Euro1.41bn in the first half of 2017. It reported sales of Euro1.48n in the same period in 2016 but the sale of its ceramic floor and wall tiles business in Latin America in September 2016 had an impact upon its results. Its operating income rose by 4.2% to Euro125m from Euro119m.

In July 2017 Etex reach an agreement to become the majority shareholder of Pladur, a Spanish manufacturer of gypsum products. The deal, subject to customary closing conditions, is expected to complete by the end of 2017.

Belgium: Revenue from Etex's Building Performance division rose slightly to Euro1.44bn in 2016 from Euro1.43bn in 2015. The division produces gypsum wallboard as well as fibre cement boards and other dry construction materials. The group said that it had posted sound results in 2016, particularly in Europe, its largest market, where it performed within expectations.

However, the company's overall revenue fell by 5.6% year-on-year to Euro2.88bn from Euro3.05bn. It blamed this on the sale of its ceramics floor and wall tiles business in Latin America and unfavourable exchange rates. On a like-for-like basis it said that its revenue rose by 1.5% in the period. Its earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) rose by 10.4% to Euro404m from Euro366m.