The US Geological Survey (USGS) reports that American mineral product producers mined 5.13 million tonnes of gypsum during the third quarter of 2024, compared with 5.12 million tonnes in the previous quarter of 2024 and 5.37 million tonnes in the third quarter of 2023.
The amount of synthetic gypsum used was estimated to be 3.85 million tonnes in the third quarter of 2024, unchanged from Q2 2024 and the third quarter of 2023. During the third quarter of 2024, synthetic gypsum accounted for approximately 35% of the 11 million tonnes of the supplied gypsum in the United States.
Gypsum, both mined and synthetic, is used as a raw material for wallboard. The wallboard industry is the leading domestic consumer of gypsum. Calcined gypsum production during the third quarter of 2024 was 4.56 million tonnes, which was 7% less than that in the second quarter of 2024 and essentially unchanged from that in the third quarter of 2023.
Sales of board products were 3.8 million tonnes, equivalent to approximately 616 million m2, 7% less than those in the second quarter of 2024 and slightly less than those in the third quarter of 2023.
Sales of uncalcined gypsum in the third quarter of 2024, primarily for portland cement and agricultural uses, were estimated to be 4.7 million tonnes, unchanged from those in the second quarter of 2024 and the third quarter of 2023.
Quarterly fluctuations in the production and consumption of gypsum, synthetic gypsum, and calcined gypsum are not unusual. These variances are often the result of differences in weather conditions, which can impede or encourage construction activities, coupled with market demands that are often driven by residential and commercial building activity.
According to the US Census Bureau, crude gypsum imports in the third quarter of 2024 were 1.98 million tonnes, 4% more than those in the second quarter of 2024 and 6% more than those in the third quarter of 2023. Spain was the leading source, with 39% of total crude imports, followed by Mexico with 29% and Canada with 26%.
According to the US Census Bureau, gypsum wallboard imports from 11 countries or localities in the third quarter of 2024 were 194,000 tonnes, equivalent to about 21.6 million m2. These imports were 3% less than those in the second quarter of 2024 and 7% less than those in the third quarter of 2023. Mexico was the source of 97% of wallboard imports, followed by Canada with 3%.
Wallboard exports to 32 countries or localities in the third quarter of 2024 were 161,000 tonnes, equivalent to 17.8 million m2. These were 9% more than those in the second quarter of 2024 and 6% less than those in the third quarter of 2023. Most wallboard exports were shipped to Canada, which accounted for 94% of the total.
USGS notes that changes in wallboard import and export data are frequently amplified due to relatively small quantities of traded material. All percentages in the USGS report were calculated based on unrounded data.
