Gypsum industry news
India: Rajasthan State Mines and Minerals has issued a tender for contracts to mine gypsum at multiple sites in Rajasthan. The sites in question are the Baller, Bharu, Dehariya and Kishanpura-2 mines in Bikaner District and the Siyar Ko Koshita mine in Sanchore District. Bidders for the Baller and Dehariya sites must have recorded recent annual sales of at least US$717,000, while those for the other sites must have recorded recent annual sales above US$358,000.
Hormozgan provincial government invests US$455,000 in minerals exploration in first quarter of 2025 financial year
22 July 2024Iran: The government of Hormozgan province invested US$455,000 in surveys for gypsum and other minerals in the first quarter of the 2025 financial year. Trend News has reported that Hormozgan Province presently boasts 300 mines.
Oman: The Ministry of Energy and Minerals has launched its Taqa digital investment platform. The Taqa platform will help to leverage digital technologies in the energy and minerals sectors. It includes investor packages for bidding, inspections and licence management. Gypsum quarries will be among sites included in an initial set of studies available on the platform.
Acting Director of the Petroleum Concessions Department Raya Al Abri said “This will allow investors and companies to bid transparently and within a fair competitive environment, based on technical expertise, financial solvency and value-added priorities.”
Brazil: The Brazilian Geological Service (SGB) has announced its upcoming auctioning of gypsum mining sites in Pará. Business News Americas has reported that lots include the Calcário Aveiro site and the Gipsita Rio Cupari site. Altogether, prospective buyers can bid on 2890 hectares of gypsum reserves.
Egypt: The Egyptian government plans to expand the country’s Golden Triangle Economic Zone (GTEZ), a development region centred on mineral extraction. Gypsum is among the key products of the GTEZ, alongside phosphate, iron and gold. Zawya Projects News has reported that the government aims to establish a ‘comprehensive economic hub’ in the zone, including the development of residential, commercial and leisure facilities.
Azerbaijan almost doubles gypsum production in 2023
16 February 2024Azerbaijan: Azerbaijan’s production of construction gypsum increased by 98% year-on-year to 85,000t in 2023, data from the State Statistics Committee has shown. BNI IntelliNews has reported year-on-year growth of 32% in the overall value of building materials produced in Azerbaijan in 2023, to US$694m.
US gypsum wallboard consumption falls slightly in 2023
01 February 2024US: National consumption of gypsum wallboard dropped by 4.3% year-on-year to 2.51Mm2 in 2023, according to United States Geological Survey (USGS) data. Demand for natural gypsum was 45Mt, up by 3% from 43.7Mt in 2022. The market imported 8.1Mt of gypsum throughout the year, up by 18% year-on-year.
Domestic production of crude gypsum in the US dropped by 1.3% year-on-year in 2023, to 22Mt. Exports grew by 15% to 45,000t.
US Geological Survey records slight drop in natural gypsum production in first nine months of 2023
14 December 2023US: The US Geological Survey reported domestic natural gypsum production volumes of 16.3Mt during the first nine months of 2023, down by 0.3% year-on-year from 16.4Mt during the corresponding part of 2022. Meanwhile, calcined gypsum production volumes grew by 1.2%, to 14Mt from 13.8Mt. Throughout the period, the US imported 5.91Mt of crude gypsum, up by 35% year-on-year. Spain supplied 2.4Mt (41%) of imports, followed by Mexico with 1.7Mt (29 %) and Canada with 1.56Mt (26%).
Canada: USG Corporation subsidiary Canadian Gypsum Company (CGC) plants to restart operations at its 2Mt/yr-capacity Little Narrows gypsum quarry in Nova Scotia. Construction Canada News has reported that the company expects the commissioning to take until early-mid 2026. Work includes the construction of a new crusher and conveyor systems, as well as a dock and ship loader, and the purchase of new mining equipment, including drills, loaders, excavators and haul trucks. When operational, the quarry will ship gypsum to markets along the east coast of North America, including Montréal, Québec.
USG Corporation CEO Chris Griffin said “This investment will cement our long-term commitment to the Canadian market and our dedication to providing the best experience for our customers across North America. CGC has a proud history of operations at the Little Narrows gypsum quarry, which was active from 1954 to 2016. We are deeply connected to Little Narrows and Cape Breton, and thrilled to return to drive economic growth and support the local community as a neighbour and partner.”
USG proposes exploratory drilling in national forest land in Indiana
13 February 2023US: USG has proposed to the Forest Service that it be allowed to conduct exploratory core drilling on National Forest System (NFS) lands south of its Shoals gypsum wallboard plant in Indiana. The drilling is intended to verify probable mineral resources within a 520ha area of NFS land ahead of future mining activities that would occur from the plant, according to the Washington Times-Herald newspaper. The USG drilling proposal is for a duration of two years beginning in the spring of 2023.
USG owns the subsurface mineral rights for mining gypsum deposits while the Forest Service owns the surface rights to a portion of land located within the Hoosier National Forest. The Forest Service previously gave permission for USG to conduct drilling on most of the land in 1995 but it is currently evaluating the impact it would entail, considering mitigation options and seeking public comment.