Gypsum industry news

Egypt: Dahab Sinai says that it has commenced pilot production at its 0.18t/yr plaster plant in the Suez region. The company invested around US$18m in building the unit. In early 2019 it was reported that Dahab Sinai ordered a gypsum production plant from Germany-based Claudius Peters. Rowad Tourism holds the 64% majority stake in Dahab Sinai.

Kenya/Mauritius: Saint-Gobain says that has acquired a gypsum wallboard plant in Nairobi, Kenya. The company says that it plans to build a construction chemicals line on the site of the plant. According to the Global Gypsum Directory 2021, Erdemann Gypsum and Tanzania Gypsum respectively operate 10Mm2/yr and 12Mm2/yr gypsum wallboard plants in the Kenyan capital city. Saint-Gobain has also taken over a majority stake in Chryso additives, mortars and waterproofers producer ABE Mauritius in Mauritius.

The company is seeking to expand its range of light and sustainable construction solution through the acquisitions. Its footprint in Africa extends over 12 countries across 29 facilities, nine of which it opened in the past two years.

US: Saint-Gobain plans to invest a total of US$400m in expansions to its operations including gypsum operations at four US sites. The group says that the sites are located in California and the Southeastern US. It said that the new capacities will apply the most advanced available technologies for industrial performance, safety and sustainability. This will reduce waste by 50% and CO2 emissions by 20% from current levels, according to the company.

Saint-Gobain said it hopes that the investments will strengthen its leadership in North America and accelerate its growth in the region by enriching its comprehensive range of solutions for light and sustainable construction.

France: Saint-Gobain’s consolidated sales in the first nine months of 2021 were Euro32.9bn, up by 18% year-on-year from Euro27.9bn in the corresponding period of 2020. During the period, the company’s North Europe region’s sales increased by 18% to Euro11.2bn from Euro9.49bn, its Southern Europe, the Middle East and Africa sales increased by 18% to Euro10.6bn from Euro9bn, its Americas sales increased by 20% to Euro5.07bn from Euro4.22bn and its Asia-Pacific sales increased by 25% to Euro1.32bn from Euro1.06bn.

The group said that its strategic priorities are to accelerate its growth and impact and to continue profitability and performance-focused initiatives in order to maintain robust margins and strong free cash flow generation. In the full year of 2021, it is targeting record operating income and close-to-record second-half operating income.

US: Eagle Materials’ consolidated sales were US$985m in the first half of the 2022 financial year, up by 13% year-on-year from US$875m in the first half of the 2021 financial year. Its gross profit rose by 25% to US$282m from US$225m. The group recorded gypsum wallboard sales of US$339m, up by 30% from US$261m in 2020.