Economy & Market

The Indian Gypsum Scenario | What lies ahead?

Published

10 years ago

March 31, 2017

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The gypsum demand-supply deficit in India will cumulatively widen to nearly 105 million tonnes from 2017-2031, creating a lucrative market for Omani gypsum, says Ramachandran, Director, Zawawi Gypsum LLC.
The Indian cement industry’s output is expected to touch 400 million tonnes (MT) by 2021, rising to over 600 MT by 2026 and nearly 870 MT by 2031.
In 2015-2016, the industry imported over 4 MT of gypsum, and the imported gypsum demand in India is expected to go over 10 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) by 2021, around 20 MTPA by 2026 and over 33 MTPA by 2031.
The industry’s cumulative imported gypsum demand will be 37 MT during 2017-2021, over 116 MT from 2017-2026 and over 254 MT (2017-2031), driven primarily by strong growth in the cement production segments.Local gypsum availability
Historically, India’s annual supply of cement-grade natural gypsum is only around 3 MT per year due to non-viability of mining of deep seated gypsum reserves in Rajasthan. By and large, the entire production of gypsum is from Rajasthan state (99 per cent), and the state has over 90 per cent of the country’s gypsum reserves.
Gypsum prices are regulated by the Rajasthan government and over 95 per cent of its deep-seated gypsum reserves are not economically viable for mining at current prices. Furthermore, the annual production quantities have started decreasing.
As per IBM, as on 1st April, 2010, Indian gypsum resources were estimated at 1,286 MT of which 39 MT have been placed under ‘mineable reserves’ and 1,247 MT under the ‘resources’ category, which are deep seated and not feasible for mining.
Annual production of phospho-gypsum in India is around 6 MT. Phospho-gypsum supplies will be constrained by issues revolving around rock phosphate availability for DAP (Diammonium Phosphate) production. Hence, phospho-gypsum supply to the cement industry will continue to be around 6-7 MTPA. Marine gypsum supply is of a very negligible quantity. Ergo, local gypsum supply will continue to be below 10 MTPA per year.Will Thailand Cash In?
Asia’s current dominant supplier Thailand is unlikely to capitalise on its gypsum resources due to local supply constraints anticipated in the future.
Thailand’s gypsum exports are controlled by the country’s Department of Primary Industries and Mines (DPIM) through non-issuance of new mining licences, and exports are strictly under a non-marketable quota system. As the part of strategies for maximising the economic and social benefit accrued to the country from the export of gypsum resources, DPIM is setting the gypsum FOB selling price. Presently the FOB price is $18.50 per tonne.
Gypsum exports from Thailand to India could drop to zero in coming years, and most of the existing Asian customers of Thai gypsum are actively scouting for gypsum supply from Oman.
India’s natural gypsum production has started decreasingNatural gypsum supply from Iran
Historically, Iran’s local construction industry consumes around 90 per cent of its total gypsum production (over 14 MTPA) and the balance quantity of around 10 per cent is exported mainly to the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, and a few other Asian countries.
Local gypsum demand in Iran is expected to double in coming years along with major increase in the local selling price due to massive expansion of infrastructure and housing projects. Considering the increasing local demand, Tehran’s gypsum exports are expected to remain capped at around 10 per cent of total production.
In any event, 80 per cent of Iran’s natural gypsum resources and production is in the country’s Semnan province, situated in the central north of the country, over 1,200 km from the major port on the Gulf of Aden. This, as such, renders the gypsum uneconomical for export. The remaining 20 per cent of the resources and pro-duction is in the south of the country (around the Juyon area), and is partially available for export.
Furthermore, the construction industries in the UAE and Qatar will continue to expand, with investment in infrastructure, commercial, residential and energy projects continuing to drive growth. The FIFA World Cup 2022, World Expo 2020, housing and several infrastructure projects in the UAE and Qatar have started driving cement demand, which could lead to an increase in demand of imported gypsum.
In coming years, Iranian gypsum supply will be largely limited to the UAE, Qatar, and Kuwait and very limited quantities to the Indian west coast.
Gypsum exports from Oman have been growing at a phenomenal paceGypsum exports from Oman
Oman is on track to being crowned as the world’s largest exporter of natural gypsum by 2018 on the back of surging output that underscores the immense potential of the Sultanate’s mining sector to fuel the nation’s long-term economic development.
Exports are projected to surpass 8 MT per annum in 2018, up from 5.85 MT at the end of 2016 – a phenomenal increase that industry experts say will position the Sultanate as a global supplier of minerals in the coming years. Oman’s growing prominence as an exporter of gypsum – a basic raw material for cement and gypsum board manufacturing – comes against a backdrop of soaring demand from several Asian, African and Far Eastern nations. At the same time, major suppliers, notably Thailand, are drastically limiting exports to feed their own domestic industries.
Omani gypsum export volumes have jumped a phenomenal 20-fold over the past five years, from a mere 0.30 MT in 2010 to 5.85 MT last year. This increase has been driven primarily by galloping demand in India, Japan, Taiwan, Indonesia, Vietnam, and Bangladesh. For all the known reasons, Oman has emerged as the single most important source for high-grade natural gypsum for cement and gypsum board manufacturers across Asia and South and East Africa.
In a major development that bodes well for a strong uptick in Omani gypsum exports, top executives of the leading gypsum mining companies have unanimously endorsed new regulations issued by the Public Authority for Mining (PAM) prescribing a minimum FOB export price for gypsum.
The endorsement came at a meeting of company chief executives held earlier this year.
Also at the meeting, the attendees agreed to establish the ‘Oman Gypsum Association (OGA)’, a non-profit pan-industry grouping that advocates for, among other things, best practices in gypsum mining, community support initiatives, and minimum FOB pricing limits that consider
Asian demand and supply, and other measures aimed at supporting the growth of the domestic gypsum industry.
Alarmed by a downtrend in gypsum export prices, attributed to unhealthy undercutting by some players, PAM stepped in last month to fix a minimum export FOB price for raw gypsum at $12.50 per tonne with effect from December 2016.
Consequently, Omani gypsum exporters are barred from exporting raw gypsum below this designated price. Those found in breach of this regulation will be denied export permits, while repeat offenders are liable to have their mining licenses cancelled altogether.
Gypsum exports have the potential to drive GDP growth through enhanced non-oil exports.
During 2010-2013, Omani gypsum used to be traded at the FOB price of above $14.50 per tonne. However, despite the Sultanate’s obvious advantageous geographical position in exporting gypsum to Asian countries, Omani gypsum
was traded at far lower FOB prices during 2014 and beyond.
This peculiar situation was the result of price undercutting by Omani exporters due to lack of coordination between gypsum exporters, to the detriment of the export industry and the wider Omani economy in general.
Asian cement and gypsum board manufacturers, who are the main consumers of imported gypsum, have already started to face supply and pricing challenges – a trend that is likely to continue in the coming years. Identifying and ensuring a consistent supply of gypsum has become im-perative for cement and gypsum board producers.
After factoring in Omani gypsum supplies to the Asian market, there is still a supply deficit, which opens up opportunities for Turkey, Spain, Mexico, etc., all countries that can target the Indian market, but the landed cost of their exports will be far higher compared to Omani gypsum. The tightening demand-supply scenario will be reflected in an upward trend in Omani gypsum FOB prices, going forward. BASE LINE SCENARIO – INDIAN CEMENT PRODUCTION VS GYPSUM DEMAND & SUPPLY FROM 2017 – 2031 (QTY. IN MILLION TONS)

About the author
(The author is Director, Zawawi Gypsum LLC, a JV between ZML USG and Boral. He holds a degree in International Business Administration and has also undergone several professional training courses including Business Building, Corporate Finance and Strategy, Leadership Management and Relationship Management. Ramachandran established Zawawi Minerals LLC in 2009).Quick Bytes

Local gypsum supply will continue to be below 10 MTPA;
Asia’s current dominant supplier Thailand is unlikely to capitalise on its remaining gypsum resources due to local supply constraints anticipated in the future
Supply from Iran will be restricted to the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, and the west coast of India, among other regions;
The Sultanate of Oman will become a significant supplier on the back of its rapidly growing gypsum industry.

Thus, even with an aggressive upside supply scenario from Oman, the gypsum demand-supply deficit in India will widen cumulatively to over 5 MT between 2017 to 2021, over 33 MT between 2017-2026, and nearly 105 MT between 2017-2031, crea-ting a lucrative market for Omani gypsum.

Economy & Market

Leonard Unveils Dual-Head Robotic Arm for Hazardous Industrial Demolition

Published

1 day ago

October 30, 2026

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Leonard unveils Descender Duo, a dual-head robotic demolition arm designed to improve industrial safety and reduce shutdown time by up to 50 per cent.

Industrial robotics and refractory services specialist Leonard has launched Descender Duo, a dual-head robotic demolition arm designed to improve safety, accelerate maintenance and reduce shutdown times in hazardous industrial environments. The system made its debut at Lisahally Power Station in Northern Ireland, removing 25 tonnes of slag material within hours.

Developed for the cement, metals, waste-to-energy and petrochemical industries, Descender Duo enables remote-controlled refractory demolition, anchor cutting and welding, and refractory spraying inside boilers, calciners and silos. Its vertical-access design eliminates the need for personnel to enter confined, high-risk spaces during these operations.

Weighing less than two tonnes, the pre-assembled system requires an access opening of just 1.2 m². Supported by an external overhead hoist, it uses electrically operated hydraulic stabilising legs to secure itself inside vessels. The robotic arm offers 360-degree rotation and is suited to vessels approximately 9 m in diameter, with its operating reach extendable through strategically positioned access points.

Equipped with two independently controlled robotic heads, Descender Duo can perform identical or different tasks simultaneously, including refractory demolition, anchor cutting and spraying. Its remote-control system incorporates live camera feeds, allowing operators to monitor operations without entering hazardous environments.

According to Leonard, the technology can deliver time savings of up to 50 per cent compared with manual methods. Its ability to operate at temperatures exceeding 100°C allows maintenance to begin as early as 24 hours after burner shutdown. An all-electric power supply further supports cleaner and more cost-efficient operations.

First Deployment Demonstrates Shutdown Efficiency

The system was first deployed at Burmeister & Wain Scandinavian Contractor’s (BWSC) Lisahally Power Station in Londonderry, Northern Ireland. The facility generates electricity from grade C waste wood, supplying approximately 40,000 homes and businesses.

Leonard and BWSC collaborated to develop a customised solution for the plant’s 26-metre furnace, where extensive external pipework created significant access challenges.

Mark Leonard, Managing Director, Leonard, said, “It required new thinking and rather than step away from the problem we were committed to solving it for the customer, with the customer. We’re relentless in our approach to tackling complex challenges, head-on. We took our years of cement plant experience, coupled with our working knowledge of the BWSC plant, and designed, engineered and tested a completely new vertical solution within just seven weeks from that initial conversation with the customer. That solution was the Descender Duo as we know it today.”

Traditionally, the furnace required a cooling period of up to 36 hours before preparatory work could begin, followed by manual slag removal using rope-access personnel. With Descender Duo, work commenced just 24 hours after shutdown, reducing downtime by up to one day.

The deployment removed 25 tonnes of slag within hours, eliminated the need for at least six workers to enter the hazardous furnace interior and saved 26 hours in the shutdown programme.

“The effectiveness exceeded expectation,” said Martin Doran, Plant Manager at Lisahally Power Station.

“When the Descender Duo concept was first discussed, we had to spend some time with the team from Leonard looking at how it was going to be moved into the furnace. Every site is different and that presented its own challenges, but nothing that the team couldn’t overcome. Once it was installed we were hugely impressed by its efficiency.”

Expanding Industrial Robotics Applications

Descender Duo joins Leonard’s existing portfolio of robotic maintenance solutions, including the Axis horizontal-access arm, Nano confined-space access arm, Charger cement mill media recharging system and Calibre cement mill media grading system.

Headquartered in Northern Ireland, Leonard provides robotic refractory demolition, installation, inspection and industrial maintenance services across the cement, metals, energy, biomass, glass and civil engineering sectors.

Formerly known as G Leonard, the company has more than 35 years of industry experience and operates across Europe, North America, the Middle East, Africa and Asia-Pacific.

The latest innovation reinforces Leonard’s focus on replacing hazardous manual processes with robotic systems that improve workforce safety, enhance operational efficiency and minimise industrial downtime.

Concrete

Martin Engineering Appoints Ashwini Khunte as India General Manager

Published

1 day ago

October 30, 2026

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Martin Engineering names Ashwini Khunte India General Manager to strengthen operations and drive growth across key bulk material handling sectors.

Pune

Martin Engineering, a global provider of bulk material handling solutions, has appointed Ashwini Khunte as General Manager of its India business, strengthening its leadership as the company expands its presence across the country’s cement, mining, steel, power and infrastructure sectors.

Khunte brings more than a decade of experience with Martin Engineering, having joined its Indian operations in 2013 as a Design Engineer, shortly after the company established its presence in the country in 2012.

A mechanical engineer by qualification, she spent her initial five years developing bulk material handling solutions in collaboration with the company’s operations team. During this period, she gained extensive experience addressing operational challenges in the steel, cement and coal industries. She subsequently moved into project engineering, managing major engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) and original equipment manufacturer (OEM) projects from initial enquiry to commissioning. Her responsibilities later expanded to overseeing Martin Engineering’s conveyor product portfolio in India, involving customer engagement, technical presentations and site visits across heavy industries.

In 2024, Khunte was promoted to Head of Sales & Marketing for the company’s Europe, Middle East, Africa and India (EMEAI) region. The position broadened her international market exposure and strengthened her strategic and commercial leadership capabilities.

Commenting on her appointment, Ashwini Khunte, General Manager, Martin Engineering India, said: “India represents a tremendous opportunity for Martin Engineering. The country’s continued investment in cement, mining, steel, power and infrastructure is creating increasing demand for safer, cleaner and more productive bulk material handling, and that’s exactly what we do. My priority will be to build on the strong foundations already established in India, while continuing to develop our people, strengthen customer relationships and bring practical solutions to the challenges faced by our industry.”

Robert Whetstone, Area Vice President – EMEAI, Martin Engineering, highlighted Khunte’s technical expertise, market understanding and leadership experience.

“Ashwini brings an exceptional combination of technical understanding, customer knowledge and commercial leadership. She has grown as Martin Engineering has grown, and has consistently demonstrated outstanding capability to transform her expertise into practical solutions. Her knowledge of the Indian market, together with her international experience, makes her ideally suited to lead our India business through its next stage of growth for years to come.”

Since establishing its Indian business in 2012, Martin Engineering has expanded its local workforce, manufacturing capabilities and dealership network. The company supplies conveyor products, transfer point solutions, material flow aids, training and technical support to bulk material handling industries. Khunte’s appointment positions the company to further strengthen customer relationships and expand its solutions portfolio in India’s growing industrial and infrastructure markets.

Concrete

Fornnax Wins AIRIA’s Special Export Award for Rubber Machinery in 2025-26

Published

2 weeks ago

October 19, 2026

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Fornnax Technology Pvt. Ltd. has been honoured with the Special Export Award – Rubber Machinery for 2025–26 by the All-India Rubber Industries Association (AIRIA), in recognition of its highest exports of tyre recycling plants to the European region.

With more than a decade of experience in India’s tyre recycling industry, Fornnax has contributed to the development of advanced recycling technologies and infrastructure. The company currently holds a 90% market share in India’s domestic tyre recycling sector, while exports account for 30% of its business, spanning markets such as Europe, Australia and the GCC.

The award marks another milestone for Fornnax, whose tyre recycling lines and advanced shredding technologies are supporting the growth of the circular economy in India and international markets.

Commenting on the recognition, Mr. Jignesh Kundaria, Founder and Director of Fornnax, said:

“This honour from AIRIA is a reflection of an incredible journey we have undertaken over the years. When we started Fornnax, there was no established recycling industry in India to follow. We chose to build for the future instead. Today, when you see India’s tyre recycling sector, it has already transformed into a dynamic, high-growth industry and we are extremely proud to have played our part in building it.”

Unlike standalone equipment suppliers, Fornnax focuses on developing complete, high-capacity recycling infrastructure. Its integrated systems combine multiple stages of shredding and size reduction to enable efficient, continuous operations. This system-level engineering approach helps recycling operators improve throughput, equipment reliability and operational consistency.

The recognition reinforces Fornnax’s commitment to developing engineering technologies that contribute to a more efficient and circular recycling ecosystem.

Looking ahead, the company aims to expand its international presence while continuing to develop advanced shredding and recycling solutions to address the growing volumes and evolving requirements of the global recycling industry.

For more information, visit: www.fornnax.com