Gypsum industry news

Mexico: Mining and metallurgic production dropped 6% in Mexico in the first four months of 2014, the steepest fall for a similar period since 2009, according to the national institute of statistics and geography (INEGI). The drop was attributed to a fall in coal, gold, iron ore, silver, fluorite and lead production. In contrast, gypsum, coque, sulphur, zinc and copper output rose in the same period.

India: Gypsum producer FCI Aravali Gypsum and Minerals India Ltd (FAGMIL) has announced profits of US$8.74m in 2013 – 2014, up from US$2.64m in 2009 – 2010.

India: The government of Telangana State will supply gypsum to farmers at a 50% subsidy. Telangana Markfed and AP Agros have been selected as the nodal agencies to supply the gypsum. The subsidy portion would be met from normal State plan, National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture and the National Food Security Mission (NFSM) programmes.

India: Gypsum consumption in India is anticipated to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of around 4% during 2012 – 2018 according to the latest market reports. The growing demand for gypsum, due to the amplified construction activity, high cement consumption and extensive use of gypsum in fertilisers and ceramic products, has resulted in escalating gypsum consumption.

Russia: According to the Ecological Watch for Northern Caucasus (EcoWatch), a gypsum plant is being built in the dwelling settlement of Kamennomostsky, Republic of Adygea that poses a danger to local residents and tourists. Ecologists have sent their appeals to supervisory authorities and bodies of power.

On 10 June 2014 EcoWatch received an appeal from the residents of Kamennomostsky and the neighbouring settlements of Abadzekh, in which they expressed their concerns about the fact that the operation of the plant will be 'a source of serious pollution of the environment.'

"The plant will use local water sources, which are scant," said Aslan Dzubov, the lawyer of a large peasant farm in Kamennomostsky. "Both crops and locals are severely affected by water pollution." He emphasised that he is not against the construction of the plant as such, but that it is necessary to choose a different location for it.

The EcoWatch sent official requests to the Prosecutor's Office of the Republic of Adygea, the regional department of the Russian Federal Agency for Consumer Supervision and the environment protection department asking them to conduct an inspection.