Gypsum industry news

India: JSW Group subsidiary JSW Infrastructure has entered a concession agreement with VO Chidambaranar Port Authority to develop a new berth at VO Chidambaranar Port on a design, build, finance, operate, and transfer basis. The Hindu newspaper has reported that the company plans to commission the 7Mt/yr Berth III for the export of bulk minerals, including gypsum.

JSW Infrastructure "The asset provides access to the rich hinterland with a diverse cargo profile including coal, limestone, gypsum and rock phosphate."

Romania: Saint-Gobain Romania has launched the Saint-Gobain National Trophy contest. The contest recognises exceptional projects due for completion by the end of 2024 which incorporate materials supplied by Saint-Gobain Romania. Local press has reported that judges will evaluate projects’ excellence in execution, sustainability and effective utilisation of their incorporated Saint-Gobain products. The company will receive submissions until 31 October 2024.

Canada: GMS has acquired retailer Yvon Building Supply and its affiliates. Yvon Building Supply operates at seven locations in Ontario, supplying gypsum wallboard and other construction products to the local market.

GMS president and CEO John C Turner said "We are pleased to enhance our service and product offerings in the Greater Toronto market with the successful completion of this transaction. We are excited to welcome the Yvon team to GMS Canada and look forward to expanding our core and complementary products in southern Ontario."

Canada: US-based Arclin has concluded a deal to acquire fellow construction polymers producer RG Dispersants from CPS Performance Materials. RG Dispersants employs 150 people across its operations, with plants in Candiac, Quebec, and Cedartown, US.

Arclin president and CEO Bradley Bolduc said "The addition of RG Dispersantswill add applications such as wallboard, speciality concrete and speciality rubber/tyre production."

US: GMS grew its sales by 3% year-on-year to US$5.5bn in the 2023 financial year. It attributed this partly to high volumes of multi-family residential construction. The group’s Canadian operations contributed US$660m (12%) of sales. GMS recorded adjusted earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) of $616m, down by 7% year-on-year.

During the year, the company made three new acquisitions. It repurchased US$116m-worth of shares and refinanced its senior secured term loan to extend its maturity by seven years, to 2030.