Gypsum: Stocks
Huge reserves, but the fragile supply is synthetic
What this tab covers How much is left and how much is held. For minerals and energy: reserves, current output, years of supply and recycling for the top five countries. For farm commodities: production, ending stocks and stocks-to-use for the top five producers (USDA, October 2026). It also covers inventories and stockpiles.Top five countries: reserves, output and years of supply
| Country | Reserves kt gypsum | Current output kt gypsum (mine, 2025e) | Years of supply | Recycling |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 700,000 | 20,000 | 35 | n/a |
| Iran | 750,000 | 16,000 | 47 | n/a |
| Oman | – | 14,000 | – | n/a |
| China | 1,800,000 | 12,000 | 150 | n/a |
| Spain | – | 11,000 | – | n/a |
| India | 37,000 | 4,300 | 9 | n/a |
Recycling
Reserves are large but mostly unreported (USGS world total: 'large'). Recycling is small: US board plants recycle about 700,000 t of manufacturing scrap a year onsite, while demolition board recycling is unmeasured (USGS 2026). The EU end-of-life recycling input rate is 1% (EU CRM 2023). India row added for context; its reserves figure dates from 2015.
Reserves are large but mostly unreported, so USGS gives no world figure and no reserve life. Reported reserves include China (1.8 billion t), Thailand (910 million t), Iran (750 million t) and the US (700 million t). The more fragile supply is synthetic. As coal plants close and gas takes over, FGD gypsum output has stopped growing after two decades of rapid gains. Wallboard plants recycle about 700,000 t of scrap a year onsite. Demolition wallboard recycling is unmeasured, and the EU puts end-of-life recycling input at only 1%.
Recycling
End-of-life recycling input rate in the EU: 1% of demand met from post-consumer scrap (EU CRM study 2023).About 700,000 t a year of wallboard manufacturing scrap is recycled onsite; construction and demolition recycling amounts are unknown.