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Scarcity of Domestic Gypsum Supply

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The Indian cement manufacturers are likely to face serious challenges regarding gypsum availability and cost in the near future. Ramachandran, Chief Executive Officer, Zawawi Minerals LLC, Sultanate of Oman, discusses how identifying and ensuring a consistent supply of gypsum will become an on-going challenge.

The Indian cement demand is set for its third straight year of growth with a 7 per cent to 9 per cent jump to over 400 million tonnes in fiscal 2024. Cement demand in India is expected to continue growing for the next few years, backed by the government’s push for infrastructure development and increasing demand in the housing sectors. However, India has a scarcity of domestic gypsum supplies, which does not bode well for the fast-growing cement industry. An essential, non-substitutable critical raw material, gypsum is required for all varieties of cement production.
Since 2009, the gypsum supply deficit in the Indian domestic market has led to increased dependence on largely imports of natural gypsum predominantly from the Sultanate of Oman, and other countries like Iran, Thailand, small volume from Pakistan and Bhutan by road to the northern part of India. This dependency shall continue in coming years and is growing day by day.
FY 2009 to 2023, India imported 57.09 million tonnes of gypsum cumulatively, witnessed at a CAGR of 16.60 per cent. The gypsum import volume represents nearly 35 per cent of the total gypsum consumed by the cement industry. The Sultanate of Oman alone supplied 28 million tons (49.05 per cent) and the remaining 29.09 million tonnes were from Thailand, Iran, Pakistan and Bhutan etc. FY 2022 to 2023 – India imported 5.76 million tons of gypsum, which represents 35 per cent of the total gypsum consumption. The Sultanate of Oman supplied 5.20 million tons (90.39 per cent) and the remaining 0.56 million tonnes are from Thailand, Iran and Bhutan.
According to the production growth of cement and gypsum board, the industry’s demand for gypsum is expected to reach nearly 380 million tons cumulatively by FY 2037-2038 with a CAGR of 5.15 per cent. The maximum local gypsum supplies could be around 200 million tons, which includes FGD gypsum, Phospho-gypsum, Natural gypsum etc. The limited availability of domestic gypsum will lead to supply constraints and increased dependence on imports, cumulatively needing to import nearly 180 million tonnes of gypsum to meet the domestic demands.
Natural Gypsum: India’s local natural gypsum production and supplies are limited due to deep seated gypsum reserves not feasible for mining.
Phospho-gypsum: Phospho-gypsum production in India is limited, the majority of the existing Phosphop-gypsum stockpile may be consumed for on-going road construction, as reported by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. Recently, the Central Road Research Institute (CRRI) carried out an R&D project to explore the feasibility of Phospho-gypsum for road embankment and subgrade construction. The performance of Phospho-gypsum was as good as conventional sand embankment. It was concluded that 100 per cent of Phospho-gypsum can be used for both embankment and subgrade construction.
An Indian fertiliser company has constructed a road using phosphor-gypsum, which was evaluated by the CRRI. Based on their report, the Indian Road Congress (IRC) has been accredited for using phosphor-gypsum waste material for the road constructions.
FGD (Flue Gas Desulphurisation) gypsum: The production growth of FGD gypsum uncertainty shall continue due to huge investments of over US$ 13 billion for installing FGD units by the heavy debt-burden coal power companies. India had initially set a 2017 deadline for 2,11,520 MW thermal power plants to install FGD units to cut Sulphur emissions. That was later changed to varying deadlines for different regions, ending in 2022, and further extended to a period up to 31st December 2026. According to the latest guidelines, the power plant which have plans to retire before 31st December 2027 will now be exempted from installing FGD units and if the non-retiring power plants fail to adhere to the new deadlines, they will have to pay ‘environmental compensation’ ranging from 20 paise to 40 paise per unit electricity generated.
According to the Central Electricity Authority (CEA) the FGD unit implementation status as of May 2023 – only 9,280 MW (4.40 per cent) capacity already installed and only 1,00,430 MW have been awarded bids for installing FGD units.
On the other hand, considering the huge capital investments, limestone costs for the FGD process and other operating costs, the FGD gypsum will not be available at a cheaper price for the Indian consumers – only the limestone cost itself for the production of per tonne FGD gypsum will be US$ 18 or above.

Gypsum Export Supply Outlook
Supply from Thailand:
Asia’s past dominant gypsum exporter began to cap their exports with the goal of conserving resources for their own significant domestic industries. The government authority regulated the minimum FOB (Free on Board) export selling price. Presently Thailand exports its gypsum at an FOB price of over US$ 20 per tonne and exports over 97 per cent of its gypsum to the historical gypsum importing countries in Southeast Asia.
Supply from Iran: Iran gypsum export volume significantly started falling after tightening the sanction parameters. Gypsum exports to India started dropping, the exports dropped to 0.17 million tonnes in the FY 2022-2023 from 1.57 million tonnes in the FY 2021-2022, nearly 89.35 per cent dropped.
Historically, Iran exports around 10 per cent of its annual production of gypsum majority to India and other GCC countries like UAE, Qatar etc. If the sanctions are lifted, the Iranian construction and infrastructure sector will grow exponentially, and this will create an immense demand for gypsum in the local construction industries. Hence, the gypsum export volumes shall be limited and the FOB selling price may be increased to the level of the pre-sanction period, i.e., FOB US$ 14 -15 per ton or more.
Supply from the Sultanate of Oman: The World’s largest gypsum supplier – Oman exports nearly 10 million tonnes of gypsum yearly, which is 50 per cent of Asia, Southeast Africa and GCC countries’ imported gypsum demand. Oman exports 50 per cent of its total volume to India and the remaining 50 per cent are exported to the historical gypsum importers like Bangladesh, Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, Philippines, Japan, South Korea, UAE, Southeast Africa etc.
Gypsum, key critical raw material for the cement and gypsum board manufacturing industries, much of the imported gypsum consuming the above countries is now turning to the Sultanate of Oman for its requirements of the commodity. The Sultanate of Oman is emerging as the single most important supply source for gypsum, with no rivals. However, Oman’s present exportable gypsum reserves are very limited.
The Government authority of the Sultanate of Oman introduced w.e.f. January 2017, a FOB floor price of US$ 12.50 per ton of raw gypsum exported out of the country, which is keen to increase the FOB prices in coming years to meet its own objectives, to increase the country’s non-oil export revenue.
Even though gypsum accounts for just 2 per cent to 3 per cent of the total cost of cement sales, the Indian cement manufacturers are likely to face serious challenges regarding its availability and cost in the near future. Identifying and ensuring a consistent supply of gypsum will become an on-going challenge.

Data Sources

  • Global cement magazine
  • Global gypsum magazine
  • The Fertiliser Association of India (FAI)
  • Central Electricity Authority of India (CEA)
  • The Ministry of Energy and Mining – The Sultanate of Oman
  • Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) – Government of India
  • The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways of India
  • The Central Road Research Institute (CRRI) of India
  • Various published reports on Cement and Gypsum industries

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Ramachandran is the Chief Executive Officer with Zawawi Minerals LLC in The Sultanate of Oman.

Concrete

Ramco Cements’ Hard Worker Wins Eight Awards at ‘Love of Advertising Awards 2026’

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Ramco Cements’ Hard Worker brand wins eight awards for excellence in advertising, packaging and brand identity at the Love of Advertising Awards 2026.

Hyderabad 

The Ramco Cements Limited’s construction chemicals brand, Hard Worker, has secured eight awards at the Love of Advertising Awards 2026, recognising its creative excellence across television, digital advertising, packaging design and brand identity.

Organised by the Advertising Club of Trivandrum, the awards were presented at a ceremony held at The Leela Raviz, Kovalam, on 24 October 2026. The recognition highlights Hard Worker’s integrated marketing strategy and its efforts to establish a distinctive presence in India’s competitive construction chemicals market.

The eight awards span multiple creative categories, reflecting the brand’s approach to combining product-focused communication with engaging storytelling, humour and innovative design. Through its campaigns, Hard Worker has sought to simplify technical product benefits and make construction chemicals more accessible and relatable to consumers and construction professionals.

Built around the philosophy of “Hard-working products for hardworking people”, the brand focuses on communicating practical product advantages through memorable advertising narratives while maintaining a consistent identity across different marketing platforms.

Its campaigns for Ramco Hard Worker Eco Plaster and Tile Fix have been central to this approach. The Eco Plaster campaign highlights water conservation through the product’s self-curing properties, positioning it as a solution that supports more efficient construction practices. Meanwhile, Tile Fix promotes specialised tile-fixing solutions by presenting their practical benefits through relatable situations and creative storytelling.

Beyond advertising, Hard Worker has invested in distinctive packaging and brand identity development to improve product recognition and maintain consistency across customer touchpoints. This integrated approach has helped the brand differentiate itself in a category where marketing communication has traditionally focused on technical specifications and functional performance.

A V Dharmakrishnan, CEO, Ramco Cements, said, “Winning eight awards at the Love of Advertising Awards is a proud moment for Ramco Cements and the Hard Worker team. We believe that building a strong brand requires not only quality products but also the ability to communicate their value in a compelling and differentiated manner. Hard Worker’s journey reflects our commitment to combining product performance with innovative marketing to create meaningful connections with our customers and strengthen our presence in the construction chemicals market.”

The recognition comes as building materials manufacturers increasingly focus on brand differentiation, product awareness and customer engagement to strengthen their position in the construction chemicals segment.

By using humour and storytelling to explain product applications and benefits, Hard Worker aims to bridge the communication gap between technical construction solutions and the practical requirements of contractors, applicators and end-users.

Balaji K. Moorthy, Executive Director – Marketing, Ramco Cements, said, “Hard Worker was conceived to bring a fresh perspective to the construction chemicals category, where product communication has traditionally been functional and technical. Our endeavour has been to break through the clutter with distinctive ideas, humour and storytelling, while keeping the product proposition at the heart of every campaign. The recognition across TV and digital advertising, packaging design and brand identity design demonstrates our integrated approach to building the brand. These eight awards are an encouraging recognition of the creative thinking and collaborative effort behind Hard Worker’s marketing initiatives.”

The awards add to Hard Worker’s growing portfolio of creative recognitions and reinforce Ramco Cements’ emphasis on integrating product innovation with strategic marketing.

The brand’s communication initiatives also reflect a wider shift in the construction materials industry, where manufacturers are increasingly adopting consumer-focused marketing strategies to improve product understanding and strengthen relationships with construction professionals.

With its portfolio of construction chemicals, Hard Worker aims to address evolving requirements for durability, application efficiency and construction quality. Its marketing efforts seek to complement these product attributes by building stronger awareness and encouraging the adoption of specialised construction solutions.

Ramco Cements, one of India’s established cement manufacturers, operates across cement and allied building solutions. Through Hard Worker, the company is expanding its presence in the construction chemicals segment with products designed to enhance performance, quality and durability in modern construction applications.

The latest recognition strengthens Hard Worker’s brand visibility and underscores the growing importance of creative communication in promoting technical building materials. Ramco Cements intends to continue combining product development with distinctive marketing initiatives to support the brand’s growth in India’s construction chemicals market.

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Concrete

Shree Cement Expands Bangur Concrete Network with Patna Plant

New facility takes the company’s national RMC network to 36 plants

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Shree Cement has inaugurated a 60 m³/hour ready-mix concrete plant in Patna, Bihar, under its Bangur Concrete brand. The facility takes the company’s ready-mix concrete (RMC) network to 36 plants across India and strengthens its presence in eastern markets.

The plant was inaugurated by Neeraj Akhoury, managing director of Shree Cement, in the presence of senior company officials and other guests. It has been established to serve demand for ready-mix concrete in Patna and neighbouring areas, where infrastructure development, urban expansion and real estate activity are supporting construction growth.

The facility is designed to supply construction projects across Patna and surrounding markets. Its installed capacity of 60 m³/hour will enable Bangur Concrete to serve customers across the region while improving distribution and supply capabilities in eastern India.

The expansion is intended to improve customer service, strengthen the company’s market presence and support development activity in Bihar. The plant incorporates modern batching technology, material handling systems and quality control processes aimed at maintaining consistency in production and improving operational efficiency.

With the addition of the Patna facility, Bangur Concrete now operates 36 RMC plants across India. The business is expanding its footprint in key construction markets to improve customer access to ready-mix concrete, which is increasingly used in infrastructure, commercial and residential projects because it supports controlled production, consistent quality and more efficient material management at construction sites.

The facility will also follow environmentally responsible operating practices, in line with Shree Cement’s focus on sustainable construction solutions. The latest addition adds capacity to the company’s RMC operations and supports its efforts to serve regional construction markets as development activity continues across Bihar.

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Concrete

Ambuja Plans 2.9 MTPA Godda Cement Unit

Proposed unit forms part of Ambuja Cements’ Rs. 145 bn expansion

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Ambuja Cements has proposed a 2.9 mn tonnes per annum (MTPA) cement grinding unit in Godda district, Jharkhand, as part of a Rs. 145 bn expansion programme. The plan is intended to lift the company’s overall cement capacity to 155 MTPA by financial year 2029-30 (FY30), from its current 113.5 MTPA.

The proposal forms part of the Adani Group company’s wider manufacturing expansion across eastern and northeastern India, according to a company statement issued on Monday. The Godda unit would add grinding capacity to Ambuja Cements’ network and is intended to help serve demand in Jharkhand and neighbouring states.

Locating production closer to these markets is expected to reduce transportation costs and delivery times, while the project could support employment in plant operations, maintenance, logistics and administration. The company also linked the facility to indirect activity in transportation, contract services, construction, warehousing and local supply chains.

The expansion plan includes a 2.9 MTPA grinding unit each in Assam and Bihar, as well as additional clinker capacity in Assam. Together, the projects are designed to distribute manufacturing capacity more widely and improve the connection between clinker production and grinding operations, Ambuja Cements’ cement-business chief executive Vinod Bahety said.

Clinker is the intermediate material produced before it is ground and blended to make cement, making the Godda proposal part of a broader materials and logistics network rather than an isolated facility. Ambuja Cements has not provided a commissioning timeline, a Godda-specific investment breakdown, land details or a detailed employment estimate in the supplied announcement.

The project’s impact will depend on implementation of the plant, associated transport links and local supply chains. The announcement sets out the capacity objective but does not specify the project’s construction schedule or operational start date.

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