Abstract
North American gypsum demand to benefit from recovery in US housing
Demand for crude gypsum and gypsum products in North America will benefit from
the recovery of the US residential housing sector by 2013. Consumption of
gypsum is heavily dependent upon construction activity, given that the bulk of
demand is consumed in gypsum board (wallboard), building plasters and cement.
The collapse of the US housing market in 2007 and 2008 caused demand for
gypsum and gypsum products to decline dramatically. As the US housing sector
recovers, demand for gypsum building products will also rebound from its weak
2008 base. Prospects for gypsum and gypsum products in Canada and Mexico will
be less promising, especially in Canada, where construction activity is
expected to be stagnant through 2013.
Synthetic gypsum to continue gaining market share
Crude gypsum supplies in North America continue to be dominated by material
extracted from gypsum mines. Such material accounted for more than
threequarters of regional demand in 2008. Synthetic gypsum, which is produced
as a by-product of the flue gas desulfurization process used at coal-fired
electric power plants, accounted for the remainder. Synthetic gypsum has
increased its share of the total market rapidly over the last ten years, and
will continue to account for a growing portion of demand, although gains will
be less rapid.
Dominant construction market to offer best growth opportunities
Demand for gypsum products is dominated by construction materials,
particularly gypsum board, building plasters and cement additives. Overall,
construction products accounted for 88 percent of gypsum product demand in
2008. Construction markets will post the most rapid gains through 2013, as the
US housing market recovers from its weak 2008 performance. In particular,
growth prospects will be best in residential construction markets, while
nonresidential markets remain relatively flat. Nonbuilding markets will
advance about 2.0 percent annually through 2013. Consumption of gypsum
products in industrial and agricultural markets will continue to lag overall
growth.
Study coverage
This new Freedonia industry study, Gypsum Products in North America, presents
historical demand data (1998, 2003, 2008) as well as forecasts for 2013 and
2018 for crude gypsum (both mined and synthetic), calcined gypsum products
(gypsum board, building plasters, industrial plasters) and uncalcined gypsum
products (e.g., cement additives, soil amendments and fillers) by type, market
and country. The study also considers market environment factors, evaluates
company market share and profiles industry competitors, including USG,
National Gypsum and Georgia-Pacific.
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