The USGS has released its report on gypsum in the fourth quarter of 2014, showing an increase in consumption of 24 percent y/y, which is attributed in part to an increased number of housing starts in 2014.
In 4Q14, some 4.62 million t of gypsum was mine, up 11 percent q/q and 49 percent higher than in 4Q13. Synthetic gypsum used was 2.45 million t in 4Q14, up 10 percent y/y. Of the 8.14 million t of gypsum supplied in 4Q14, 30 percent was synthetic. Both mined and synthetic gypsum are used as raw material for wallboard, the leading domestic consumer of gypsum.