The USGS has released its report on gypsum in the fourth quarter of 2014, showing an increase in consumption of 24% y/y, which is attributed in part to an increased number of housing starts in 2014.
In 4Q14, some 4.62 million t of gypsum was mine, up 11% q/q and 49% higher than in 4Q13. Synthetic gypsum used was 2.45 million t in 4Q14, up 10% y/y. Of the 8.14 million t of gypsum supplied in 4Q14, 30% was synthetic. Both mined and synthetic gypsum are used as raw material for wallboard, the leading domestic consumer of gypsum.
Sales of uncalcined gypsum, used in Portland cement manufacture and for agricultural uses, were slightly up q/q but 12% down y/y at 418 000 t. Calcined gypsum sales were up 3% q/q and slightly up y/y at 4.05 million t. Sales of board products were 4.99 million t, equivalent to approximately 556 million square metres (5.98 billion square feet), a 5% increase q.q but a 3% decrease y/y.
Imports of crude gypsum rose 10% q/q and 16% y/y tp 1.06 million t, with the majority coming from Mexico (47%). Gypsum wallboard imports, also mostly from Mexico, were 13% up q/q and 12% up y/y at 102 000 t or 11.3 million square metres (122 million square feet). Meanwhile, wallboard exports were 215 000 t, equivalent to 23.8 million square metres (257 million square feet), up 6% q/q and y/y.
Adapted from press release by Katherine Guenioui