Gypsum industry news

Saudi Arabia: United Mining Industries says that an upcoming new gypsum wallboard line in Saudi Arabia is ‘near to completion’ and will commence commercial production ‘soon.’ In a post to LinkedIn, CEO Hamad Alsourayia gave his best wishes to ‘new plant manager’ Kassim Fakir. No further details on any new plant are yet forthcoming.

United Mining Industries currently operates a 30Mm²/yr gypsum wallboard plant in Yanbu.

Kazakhstan: The government of Kazakhstan will impose a three-month ban on imports of gypsum wallboard from 22 July 2025.

Interfax Central Asia News has reported that Kazakhstan produced 35.5Mm² of gypsum wallboard in 2024, corresponding to 77% utilisation of its 46Mm²/yr capacity. Domestic demand was 38.8Mm².

India: Knauf India has appointed Gaunik Jeet Singh as its Head of Marketing. The role includes responsibility for brand visibility and communication strategy, combining Knauf's global vision with the Indian construction milieu.

Singh has 19 years’ brand management and marketing experience, including at motorcycles producer Hero MotoCorp, paints and coatings producer AkzoNobel, telecommunications company Airtel and finance company DigiSpice Technologies. He holds a Master’s in Business Administration (MBA) from Symbiosis International University and bachelor’s degree in Electronics and Telecommunications from Savitribai Phule Pune University, both in Pune, India.

Singh said "The Knauf India brand has a strong foundation and there's a real opportunity to build a deeper awareness and connect meaningfully with our stakeholders. I look forward to working with the team to further elevate Knauf's brand in India and beyond."

Oman: The Omani government has granted a mandate to Minerals Development Oman subsidiary Oman Minerals Trading Company to manage marketing and export of the country’s gypsum and chrome ore. The mandate imposes new rules that require the Omani gypsum trade to prioritise the local market over exports. A new supplier and buyer registration programme will launch in mid-late 2025, in advance of full implementation of the new system in May 2026.

Minerals Development Oman CEO Mattar Salim Al Badi said "We deeply value the Ministry of Energy and Minerals' trust in tasking the Oman Minerals Trading Company with organising and exporting gypsum and chrome ores. This authorisation marks a strategic milestone, poised to boost supply chain efficiency, unify marketing efforts and ensure transparent, fair pricing."

Oman produced 14Mt of gypsum across 15 licensed mines in 2024.

Brazil: Trevo Drywall has won a contract to supply 50,000m² of gypsum wallboard to the Gênesis Condominium residential development in Fortaleza, Ceará. Additionally, the company will supply joint compounds, steel profiles and screws. The building will be the first of its kind in the state to feature light steel frame (LSF) construction, halving build times. Construction commenced in late June 2025, with the first 40 units due to be ready for occupation in June 2026.