Gypsum industry news

UK: The Pallet Loop has concluded a strategic agreement to provide its pallets collection service for British Gypsum’s UK distribution operations. From May 2024, British Gypsum will deliver bagged plaster using The Pallet Loop’s green pallets. It will subsequently begin to transition its gypsum wallboard distribution to The Pallet Loop pallets from July 2024, resulting in 70% coverage of its entire distribution of products. The subsidiary of Saint-Gobain plans to eventually raise this to 100%.

British Gypsum managing director Dean O’Sullivan said “We are delighted to announce our partnership with The Pallet Loop as we aim to radically cut unnecessary waste. Pallets left behind after products have been removed have for a long time created a challenge, with many being unsustainably disposed of at a heavy environmental cost. By joining forces with The Pallet Loop, we aim to significantly reduce this practice.”

The Pallet Loop managing director Paul Lewis said “At Loop, our mission is to transform the way building materials move and we are incredibly excited that British Gypsum, as a market leader, is partnering with us to promote a culture of pallet reuse. Using our service, merchants, distributors, principal contractors and housebuilding companies will be able to book pallet collections, which can take place from as little as 72 hours later. There will also be a payback of up to €4.69 available for every green coloured pallet they put back in the loop.”

Canada: France-based Saint-Gobain has entered into an agreement to acquire Bailey Metal Products for US$649m. The group says that the structural framework producer will help to strengthen its lightweight construction offering. It said that Bailey Metal Products is a ‘long-standing partner’ that has previously supplied ceiling grids, frames and fasteners for its own lightweight construction products.

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.

Saudi Arabia: National Gypsum Company’s sales amounted to US$13.8m in 2023, down by 5.5% year-on-year from US$14.6m in 2022. Reuters has reported that the company’s cost of sales dropped by 8% year-on-year. Nonetheless, it recorded a net profit of US$1.36m, against a US$1.71m loss in 2022.

Turkmenistan: Ak Bulut despatched its first shipment of gypsum wallboard to Georgia on 2 April 2024. Trend News has reported that Ak Bulut says that the market entry signals the innovation of the Turkmen building materials sector. The producer commissioned its 4Mm²/yr Dostluk gypsum wallboard plant in December 2023.