Boral/USG has seen an improvement in its Asian and Australian plasterboard volumes, up 10% in the first half of 2014. USG Boral has around 189Mm2/yr capacity (51% markets) in south east Asia, Saint-Gobain has 101Mm2/yr (27%)
Knauf has opened its second wallboard plant in Brazil t Camacri Bahia. US$66m
Fletcher Building which holds 94% of the New Zealand plasterboard market, maybe effected by a budget decision to remove tariffs on imported plasterboard (GIB board).
Elephant Plasterboard has made allegations that resellers of Winstone GIB board products are squeezing out alternative products like Elephants products which make up 3% of the market. A lack of competition in the NZ plasterboard supply market means New Zealanders pay up to 70% more for GIB board than Australians. This can add 40% to the cost of building a new home.
