Gypsum: Overview
From wallboard to soil: where gypsum ends up
What this tab covers What the commodity is used for, why, in what volumes and with what alternatives, and its chain from mine or field to end user. Also the latest price moves, top recent news, three things to know, and buttons into each tab.Key uses
| Use | Share | Annual volume | Why this commodity | Alternatives |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wallboard (plasterboard, drywall) and gypsum panels | n/a | US sales of 26 billion sq ft (about 2.4 billion m2) in 2025basis | Gypsum is calcined into stucco, mixed with water and sandwiched between paper. It sets fast, is light, cheap and fire resistant because its crystal water boils off before the board burns. Board is the standard interior wall in North America, Europe, Japan and Australia and is spreading in Asia, including India. USGS MCS 2026, Gypsum | Brick and block walls with cement plaster Wood, plywood and fibre-cement boards Metal or plastic panels, glass (USGS) |
| Portland cement set retarder | n/a | indicative 150-190 Mt a year worldwidebasis | A few percent of gypsum is ground with clinker to stop cement flash-setting when water is added. USGS says gypsum has no practical substitute in portland cement. This makes cement the largest single use in cement-heavy economies such as China and India. USGS MCS 2026 (Gypsum, Cement); IBM Indian Minerals Yearbook 2022; Global Gypsum (Jul 2023) | None practical for mined gypsum in cement (USGS); FGD gypsum and phosphogypsum substitute as sources |
| Building plasters (plaster of Paris, gypsum plaster, ceilings, moulds) | n/a | n/a basis | Calcined gypsum re-hydrates and hardens in minutes, gives smooth finishes and does not shrink. It is used for wall plaster, false ceilings, dental and industrial moulds and casts. USGS MCS 2026 | Cement and lime plasters (USGS) |
| Agriculture (soil conditioner and sulfur/calcium nutrient) | n/a | n/a basis | Gypsum supplies calcium and sulfur and helps reclaim sodic soils by replacing sodium on clay particles. It is a low-cost amendment in both the US and India. IBM Indian Minerals Yearbook 2022, Gypsum; USGS MCS 2026 | Elemental sulfur and ammonium sulfate (sulfur supply) Lime (calcium, but raises pH) |
| High-purity industrial uses (food, pharmaceuticals, fillers, glass, tofu, brewing water) | n/a | n/a basis | Pure gypsum is inert, white and non-toxic, so it serves as a filler and calcium source in food, toothpaste, pharmaceuticals and paper. USGS MCS 2026 | Calcium carbonate fillers Talc and kaolin |
From mine to user
- 1. Evaporite deposits or industrial by-product Natural gypsum and anhydrite formed as ancient seas evaporated. Synthetic gypsum comes from flue-gas desulfurisation (FGD) at coal power plants and from phosphoric acid plants (phosphogypsum).
- 2. Quarrying or mining Mostly open pit with ripping or blasting; some underground mines. The US had 45 mines in 15 states in 2025 producing 20 Mt (USGS).
- 3. Crushing, grinding and shipping Rock is crushed and shipped by truck, rail or bulk carrier. Oman exported 11.2 Mt in 2023, 5.3 Mt of it to India (Global Gypsum, Jan 2024).
- 4. Calcining to stucco Heating drives off three-quarters of the crystal water, making hemihydrate (plaster of Paris, stucco). US calcined output was 18 Mt in 2025 (USGS).
- 5. Board and plaster manufacture Stucco slurry is formed between paper sheets, set and dried in long kilns. Board plants recycle about 700,000 t of scrap a year onsite in the US (USGS).
- 6. Cement grinding Raw gypsum is interground with clinker at about 4-5% of cement weight (IBM).
- 7. End users Builders, cement users, farmers and industry.
Price movement snapshot 2026-10-25
No public daily or monthly benchmark price for this commodity in the datasets used.
World production 217.7 m tonnes, 2024 Largest producer China 27.56% of worldThree things to know
- Synthetic gypsum from power-plant scrubbers supplied about 39% of US gypsum in 2025.
- Gypsum has no practical substitute as a setting regulator in portland cement.
- US crude gypsum sold for about $13 per tonne at the mine in 2025.
Top recent news snapshot 2026-10-25, last 30 days
- In 2020, researchers mixed cigarette-butt fibers into gypsum; it became 10.2% stronger in bending and 11.The Times of India · 2026-10-10
- Form 4 Eagle Materials Inc: Eric Cribbs (President (American Gypsum)) For: 13 OctoberInvesting.com Nigeria · 2026-10-16
- British company turns plasterboard waste into tiles with more than 95% recycled content, without kiln firThe Times of India · 2026-09-26