Gypsum industry news

Tunisia: The president of Tunisia’s National Chamber of Gypsum Institutions and Professions, Maysara Al-Baroudi, has spoken about the untapped economic potential of Tunisia’s gypsum reserves. Addressing delegates at the Afro-European Economic Forum in Hammamet, Naboul Governorate, Al-Baroudi said that Tunisia’s reserves were close in volume to those of Canada, which the US Geological Survey reported as having 450Mt in 2024. In Tunisia, deposits of gypsum are situated in the Chaîne du Thaljah Mountains in Gafsa Governorate and in the Oued El Ghar area of Tataouine Governorate.

Initiatives that aim to generate increased value from the reserves include three upcoming gypsum products plants scheduled to launch in 2026 and a major community enterprise for gypsum extraction.

India: Knauf India has appointed Vijay Mishra as its new Commercial Director. Mishra brings over 23 years’ sales and marketing experience. Afaqs! News has reported that Mishra has held management roles at tiles producers H & R Johnson, RAK Ceramics and Kajaria Ceramics, at Saint-Gobain India and at plywood producer Century Plyboards.

US: A court has ordered Apodaca Wall Systems and Empire Wall Systems to pay workers for withheld overtime wages after violating the Fair Labor Standards Act. Due News has reported that the companies must each pay US$3.73m to a combined total of 1400 employees, along with a US$125,000 penalty to the US Department of Labor.

Azerbaijan: National production of construction gypsum was 103,000t in 2024, Azer-Press News has reported that this corresponds to year-on-year growth of 21%.

Ukraine: Knauf Ukraine has obtained a 20-year licence to mine the 43.9Mt Skoviatynske gypsum deposit in Ternopil, Western Ukraine. Business World Magazine News has reported that the company bid US$2.87m for the asset at auction. Knauf Ukraine already works the nearby Shyshkovets deposit.