Gypsum industry news

US: Eagle Materials’ consolidated sales were US$1.68bn during the first nine months of its 2023 financial year, up by 16% year-on-year from US$1.45bn in the corresponding period of the 2022 financial year. Its net earnings were US$361m, up by 20% year-on-year from US$300m.

In its gypsum wallboard business, the group noted increased sales volumes and prices, alongside a ‘sharp’ drop in raw material costs, during the third quarter of the 2023 financial year. Its gypsum wallboard volumes rose by 5% year-on-year to 67.6Mm² during the quarter. This resulted in a 23% rise in the business’ revenues, to US$235m.

Azerbaijan: Azerbaijan produced 42,600t of construction gypsum during 2022, up by 15% year-on-year from 2021 levels. There was 1900t of construction gypsum in warehouses at the end of the year.

The total value of building materials produced in Azerbaijan rose by 13% year-on-year in 2022, to US$635m.

US: American Gypsum has appointed Eric M Cribbs as its president. He succeeds Steven L Wentzel at the subsidiary of Eagle Materials who has decided to retire on 1 June 2023.

Cribbs currently works as Eagle Materials’ Executive Vice President of Concrete & Aggregates, Advanced Cementitious Materials, Logistics, and Procurement & Materials. A role he has held since early 2021. Cribbs joined the company in June 2015 and prior to his current position, most recently served as Vice President of Concrete and Aggregates, Safety, Logistics, and Procurement & Materials and Vice President of Concrete and Aggregates. Earlier in his career he worked as the US Northern Region Operations Manager for Halliburton. Cribbs holds an undergraduate degree in Petroleum Engineering from the University of Alaska Fairbanks.

Bosnia & Herzegovina: The economy ministry of Central Bosnia Canton says it has extended a contract by 10 years granting mining rights of a gypsum deposit to Rudnici Gipsa. The deal covers the Elezovac quarry in the Donji Vakuf municipality, according to SeeNews. The original contract had a duration of 25 years and was set to expire in 2024. Rudnici Gipsa produces raw gypsum as well as asphalt, concrete and aggregates.

Brazil/Egypt: France-based Saint-Gobain has acquired Matchem in Brazil and started exclusive negotiations to acquire IDP Chemicals in Egypt via its Chryso subsidiary. Both transactions are intended to strengthen the company’s presence in the construction chemicals market with a focus on concrete admixtures. Matchem and IDP Chemicals will be consolidated within the Construction Chemicals segment in Saint-Gobain’s High Performance Solutions division.

Matchem, established in 2011, employs around 50 people across two plants in Brazil and reported revenue of around Euro20m in 2022. Saint-Gobain also operates mortar company Quartzolit, sealant and adhesive company TekBond and GCP Applied Technologies in Brazil.

IDP Chemicals has been licensed by Chryso since 2018 and employs 25 people at one plant. This acquisition is expected to be finalised in the first quarter of 2023.