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USGS reports gypsum figures for October 2009

World Cement,


The US Geological Society has issued a statement regarding the performance of gypsum in terms of consumption and demand in October 2009. An edited version of the statement is reproduced below, and associated statistics can be found on the USGS website.

Producers mined 797 000 t of gypsum in October 2009. Output increased 8% from that of September 2009 and was 28% less than the revised output data for October 2008. Synthetic gypsum production was 637 000 t in October 2009, which was 4% more than that of September 2009 and 7% less than that of October 2008. Both mined and synthetic gypsum are used as raw material for wallboard. The wallboard industry is the leading domestic consumer of gypsum. During October 2009, synthetic gypsum accounted for about 36% of the 1.76 million t total supply of gypsum in the United States. Sales of uncalcined gypsum in October 2009, mainly for Portland cement manufacture and for agricultural uses, were 436 000 t, slightly more than those of September 2009 and 22% less than those of October 2008.

Output of calcined gypsum for October 2009 was 1.12 million t, slightly less than that of September 2009 and 26% less than that of October 2008. Sales of board products were 1.3 million t, equivalent to approximately 141 million m2 (1.52 billion ft.2), a slight increase from those of September 2009 and 9% less than those of October 2008.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, imports of crude gypsum in October 2009 were 330 000 t, an increase of 38% from those of September 2009 and 49% less than those of October 2008. The United States imported crude gypsum from four countries in October 2009. Of these imports, Canada accounted for 79%, followed by Mexico with 21%. Imports from Brazil and Germany were negligible.

Gypsum wallboard imports for October 2009 were 21 400 t, equivalent to 2.4 million m2 (26 million ft.2). These imports were up 24% from those of September 2009 and 48% less than those of October 2008. The United States imported wallboard products from five countries in October 2009. Canada accounted for 55% of these imports, followed by Mexico with 45%. Imports from Colombia, Denmark, and Italy were negligible.

Although there were no wallboard imports from China in October 2009, the issue continued to be contentious. The release of corrosive sulfide gases from some of these imports, which have a high content of elemental sulfur, have been documented (U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, 2009a). Warm and humid climate conditions are thought to exacerbate sulfide off-gassing. Approximately 2000 complaints of metals corrosion within affected homes, sometimes coupled with reports of home-occupant health ailments, have been received by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, 2009b).

Wallboard exports to 31 countries and territories in October 2009 were 68 468 t, equivalent to 7.6 million m2 (82 million ft.2). These exports were 4% more than those of September 2009 and 673% more than the reported October 2008 level. An adjustment by the U.S. Census Bureau in the calculation of 2009 monthly wallboard exports to Canada resulted in the large year-over-year increase. Consequently, the sizeable increase should not be interpreted as an actual rise in exports. Most wallboard exports were shipped to 23 western hemisphere countries, with Canada accounting for 93%, followed by the Bahamas and Mexico, each with 1%.

All percentages in this report were computed based on unrounded data.

References cited can be found on the USGS website.

Read the article online at: https://www.worldcement.com/the-americas/11012010/usgs_reports_gypsum_figures_for_october_2009/

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