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New Eternit plant in Huarochiri will be operational from March 2015
Written by Global Gypsum staff
02 September 2014
Peru: Wallboard producer Eternit, which is owned by Etex, will inaugurate its 12,000Mm2/yr capacity wallboard plant under the Gyplac brand in Huarochiri, Peru, in March 2015. Investments in the new infrastructure have reached the US$33m. Eternit sees opportunities in the residential segment, while any excess production will be exported to Ecuador, Bolivia and Central America.
All Eternit operations will be concentrated in Huarochiri by 2019. Gyplac wallboard sales are expected to grow by 20%. Eternit company sales of more than US$210m are projected in Peru during 2014, 8% more than in 2013. Revenues are expected to double in the next five years. Other product lines could be incorporated from 2018 if operations prove to be successful. Eternit, which controls 45% of the Peruvian wallboard market, is introducing Equitone and Promat products as well.
Lightweight board launch amid improving picture for Boral
Written by Global Cement staff
29 August 2014
Australia: Building materials supplier Boral says that its prospects are improving as government infrastructure spending increases and industrial turmoil recedes. "After reporting lower earnings for two years running, we have clearly turned the corner," said Boral's chief executive Mike Kane.
Boral swung to an annual net profit after tax of US$161m in the financial year ending 30 June 2014, bouncing back from a US$192m net loss in the financial year ending 30 June 2013. The full-year result showed market conditions had improved across all of its divisions in Australia, the US and Asia.
Kane also expressed confidence in the American USG-Boral joint venture, which will soon launch a new lightweight gypsum board into 12 markets across Australia, Asia and the Middle East.
Output of non-metallic building materials fell in Krasnodar Region
Written by Global Gypsum staff
18 August 2014
Russia: According to the Statistics Service of the Krasnodar Region (South), in January - July 2014 the production of non-metallic building materials decreased by a factor of 1.6, production of plaster and ready-mix concrete fell by a factor of 1.5 and production of gypsum dropped by 26%. In contrast, the production of paving tiles of cement, concrete and artificial stone grew by 14.3%, production of blocks and other prefabricated un-reinforced products increased by 24.4% and production of technological lime rose by 60%.
JSC Uzstroymateriali made US$42.9m from exports in the first half of 2014
Written by Global Gypsum staff
15 August 2014
Uzbekistan: JSC Uzstroymateriali's building materials exports made US$42.9m in the first six months of 2014, which is 15.5% more compared to the same period of 2013. Enterprises of the company have increased their production by 4.5% for the reporting period.
Cement production grew by 4.9%, gypsum by 10.7%, dry construction mixes by 32%, gypsum boards by 2.9% and ceramic tiles by 10.1%. The total amount of capital investments of the largest enterprises of Uzstroymateriali amounted to US$18.3m, a 371% year-on-year increase.
USG launches USG Sheetrock Ultralight Gypsum Base Imperial
Written by Global Gypsum staff
15 August 2014
US: USG Sheetrock® Brand UltraLight Gypsum Base Imperial is now being manufactured at six USG plants. The panel is the sixth product in USG's lightweight wallboard portfolio and will be available at retail, specialty dealer and pro-dealer distributors nationwide in September 2014. The launch extends USG's position as the industry's leader in lightweight innovation. The gypsum base panel is used when a project calls for a plaster veneer finish, and is up to 30% lighter than the current ½inch USG Imperial® Gypsum Base panel. The traditional panel will be discontinued upon the launch of the new panel.