Gypsum

The United States is the world’s fifth ranked producer and consumer of gypsum. Production of crude gypsum in the United States during 2012 was estimated to be 9.9 Mt (10.9 million st), an increase of 11 percent compared with 2011 production. The average price of mined crude gypsum was $7/t ($6.35/st). Synthetic gypsum production in 2012, most of which is generated as a flue-gas desulphurization product from coal-fired electric powerplants, was estimated to be 11.8 Mt (13 million st) and priced at approximately $1.50/t ($1.36/st). Forty-seven companies produced gypsum in the United States at 54 mines and plants in 34 states. U.S. gypsum exports totaled 408 kt (450,000 st). Imports were much higher at 3.2 Mt (3.5 million st).