Gypsum industry news

Canada: CertainTeed Gypsum Canada has defended its decision to complain about the dumping of gypsum wallboard from the US in terms of Canadian law and jobs. Following the complaint the Canada Border Services Agency imposed preliminary tariffs on US wallboard, which has led to rises in the prices of wallboard. Groups, including certain Canadian customers and Western Canadian Associations, have called for a boycott on CertainTeed products in response to the situation.

"We filed an Anti-Dumping Complaint because drywall manufacturers based in the US were exporting large and growing volumes of products into Western Canada in the last few years at prices materially lower than those at which they are sold in the US," said the wallboard producer in statement. It added that this kind of dumping creates material injury to domestic manufacturers in the form of share loss and price and margin suppression and that this is considered an unfair trade practice sanctioned through an offsetting duty or tariff under Canadian law.

CertainTeed Gypsum Canada went on to say that as a response to US 'dumping' it had to cut jobs in Western Canada and reduce investment in its plants, mines and business. It then reiterated that since the financial crisis in 2008 it had kept all of its Western Canadian plants and operations open, while US companies had closed theirs.

The producer has wallboard plants in Vancouver, Calgary and Winnipeg and mines in Windermere, British Colombia and Amaranth, Manitoba that supply those plants. It employs over 1000 workers in the country.

Canada: Wallboard prices have risen in western Canada following the implementation of antidumping tariffs of up to 277% on gypsum wallboard from the US. Builders and suppliers fear the ruling could disrupt the supply of the product for construction projects, including the rebuilding campaign in Fort McMurray in Alberta, according to the Canadian Press news agency.

The Canada Border Services Agency imposed preliminary tariffs on 6 September 2016 on US wallboard into Canada for use in British Colombia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, the Yukon and Northwest Territories. The provisional duty ranges from 125% on imports from CertainTeed Gypsum and Ceiling, 105% on Georgia-Pacific Gypsum, 144% on USG and 277% on all other importers.

Canada: The Canadian International Trade Tribunal has started an inquiry to determine whether the dumping of gypsum wallboard from the US has damaging effects on the local market. The inquiry follows an investigation by the Canada Border Services Agency. The tribunal will determine whether the dumping has caused injury or retardation or is threatening to cause injury to the domestic industry.

The tribunal is an independent quasi-judicial body that reports to the Canadian parliament through the Minister of Finance. It hears cases on dumped and subsidised imports, safeguard complaints, complaints about federal government procurement and appeals of customs and excise tax rulings. It can also offer advice on economic, trade and tariff matters.

USA: GMS Inc. has announced its acquisition of Olympia Building Supplies, LLC, a leading supplier of wallboard and related construction products including steel studs, joint compound, finishing products, insulation and other specialty products to the South Florida market. Founded in 2008, Olympia has grown rapidly from a single location in Pompano, Florida to the current network of three branch locations located in Pompano, Miami and West Palm Beach. Olympia will continue to operate under its current name, which 'has garnered significant respect and brand recognition among professional contractors in its markets. The entire team will join GMS, including its General Manager, Roger Shingler, an established and respected industry veteran.'

Shingler said, "Combining forces with GMS is the right next step in our growth trajectory. GMS shares our passion for customer service and our commitment to providing high-quality products. We have successfully expanded our business to become a leading specialty distributor in Pompano, Miami and West Palm Beach, Florida. We are excited to further improve our ability to serve new and existing customers with the strong support of GMS' national scale, operational expertise, and strong financial position. Being a part of the GMS family is the perfect fit for us."

Chris Doyle, Vice President of the Southeastern division of GMS, added. "We are very happy to welcome the Olympia team to our company. Olympia is an excellent strategic fit for GMS with its broad product offering and loyal customer base in attractive markets. The acquisition of these three established locations in South Florida provides a very complementary addition to our strong existing positons in Central and Northern Florida. Furthermore, the highly seasoned team is driven by success. We look forward to integrating these assets onto our platform and remain vigilant in our pursuit to further strengthen GMS' leadership positions in the Southeast and nationally for years to come."

GMS Inc has also acquired Steven Kempf Building Material Company (SKBM) headquartered in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania. SKBM is a supplier of drywall, ceilings, steel studs and related construction products in the greater Philadelphia metro area and was founded in 1994. SKBM services large and small projects in the commercial and multi-family residential end markets. With a 132,000 sq ft state-of-the-art facility, it has an operating history of two decades and its entire team will join the company, including its founder and president Steven F. Kempf.

GMS operates a national network of distribution centers across the United States. GMS' extensive product offering of wallboard, suspended ceilings systems, or ceilings, and complementary interior construction products is designed to provide a comprehensive one-stop-shop for our core customer, the interior contractor who installs these products in commercial and residential buildings.

US: ABC Supply and USG have entered into a agreement in which ABC Supply will acquire USG's building product distribution business, L&W Supply Corporation for US$670m. The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory approvals, and is expected to be completed before the end of 2016.

"As a world-class distributor of interior building materials, L&W reinforces ABC's leadership position in building materials distribution, and helps set the stage for our next phase of growth," said Keith Rozolis, ABC Supply's President and Chief Executive Officer.

Completion of the transaction will allow USG to reduce debt and achieve its target leverage ratio, accelerate high return investments in its Gypsum and Ceilings businesses through advanced manufacturing initiatives, and position the company to consider future capital returns to shareholders. The sale of L&W Supply is also expected to dampen USG's overall earnings cyclicality as well as provide opportunity for growth in the independent specialty dealer channel.

L&W Supply is one of the largest distributors of gypsum wallboard and suspended ceiling tiles in the US, serving its customers from 136 branches. ABC Supply is a wholesale distributor of roofing, siding, windows and gutter materials. The acquisition of L&W Supply will allow it to expand into the interior of the building through the sale of gypsum wallboard and suspended ceiling tiles and grid.