Big Gains Expected in Global Drywall Demand

Global drywall demand is forecast to rise 5.87o annual through 2018 to 10.4 billion square meters, according to a new Freedonia Group report.

Rebounds in building construction spending, following years of declines in both North America and western Europe, will be the primary drivers of demand.

Growing sales in Africa and the Mideast, where drywall continues to gain popularity over more traditional building techniques and materials, will also contribute to demand gains.

While demand in both the Asia/ Pacific region and Central and South America is projected to slow from gains seen earlier in the decade, both regions will post solid growth through 2018.

Nearly three-fourths of new drywall demand from 2013 to 2018 will be due to China and the U.S. Drywall sales in the U.S. are forecast to advance nearly 8Vo, as the housing market recovers.

In China, demand for drywall is expected to post more than JVo annual growth, bolstered by significant gains in both residential and nonresidential construction spending. Drywall is also projected to be used more frequently in residential applications in China, as it gains popularity over traditional building materials.

Many industrializing countriessuch as Brazil,India, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey-are also forecast to post solid growth in drywall demand through 2018.

Increasing demand for urban housing will drive residential building construction spending and related drywall sales. In addition, advances in office and commercial construction activity will contribute to demand gains.

Going forward, drywall demand will benefit from local construction companies increasing drywall usage at the expense of other products, such as building plaster.

The drywall market in western Europe is projected to expand over 27o annually through 2018 to over I billion square meters, a rate above the 2008-2013 pace, but the slowest internationally.

Many countries are expected to post rebounds in demand as their housing markets recover, with Spain registering the fastest growth and Italy and the U.K. also forecast to perform well.

Global demand for building plaster is projected to advance over 4Eo per year to approximately 35 million metric tons in 201 8

Construction firms in many countries are projected to gradually increase their usage of drywall-based construction techniques at the expense of wet construction methods, which require more building plaster per unit. A portion of these losses, however, will be offset by growing use of building plaster as joint compound during drywall installation.

Lumberman Cleared of Arson Charge

A jury has found the owner of Lamar Hardware & Lumber, Lamar, S.C., not guilty of setting fire to his business three years ago.

A week after the 12O-year-old building was destroyed by a fire, owner James Michale Stephens was arrested on suspicion of third-degree arson.

By Wayne Rivers