Description

Calcium Sulphate is an inorganic substance, commonly known as gypsum, having molecular formula CaSO4. Calcium Sulphate has relatively low toxicity and is available in solid form and in various particle sizes (slab, kibbled, granulated).

Alternative names of Calcium Sulphate are Plaster of Paris, Anhydrite and Gypsum. Calcium Sulphate has superior physiochemical properties and thus, it finds a wide range of applications in commercial as well as industrial sectors.

Calcium Sulphate is available naturally and can be manufactured synthetically using chemical agents or intermediates. Demand for Calcium Sulphate for construction, coatings and polymerization applications has been rising significantly.

Calcium Sulphate is sold in two different grades i.e. technical and food/pharmaceutical grade. On the basis of product type, Calcium Sulphate is classified into two (2) types — anhydrous and hydrated Calcium Sulphate.

In several industrial applications, Calcium Sulphate is used as a thickening agent, excipient, additive, intermediate and desiccant, among others.

The global Calcium Sulphate market is expected to create incremental opportunity worth US$ 115.4 Bn during the forecast period (2018-2027). The global Calcium Sulphate market is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) four point one percent (4.1%) during the forecast period.

The global Calcium Sulphate market witnesses significant demand from numerous end-use industries, such as food & beverages, paper and pulp, and paints & coatings, among other industries. In the pulp & paper industry, Calcium Sulphate is used as a surface sizing agent for papers in paperboard mills.

Further, Calcium Sulphate acts as an economical source of calcium in breads, cereals, enriched flours, yeast foods, canned vegetables, baking powder, juices, jellies and preservatives. Calcium Sulphate also acts as a buffering agent in the beer manufacturing process. Additionally, Calcium Sulphate is also used as an extender pigment in paints and coatings.

Rising investments in infrastructural activities in developing countries and increased demand from end-use sectors are the prime factors expected to drive demand for Calcium Sulphate during the forecast period.

Rapidly growing population across the globe and increasing water consumption will give a push to the water treatment industry, which in turn, will cause the global Calcium Sulphate market to grow at a healthy growth rate during the forecast period.

Plaster of paris (POP) is extensively used in ceramic industry for preparation models and moulds. It is also used as main raw material in the manufacture of toys & statues, chalk crayons, gypsum plaster boards, and decorative picture frames besides wide range of applications in the interior decoration of buildings and other establishments.

Nigeria currently imports plaster of paris (POP) from China, Turkey and Morocco with Morocco being the closest supplier of the product to the entire West African region.

Despite its abundance in about thirteen (13) states in the country, Nigeria spent about twenty billion (₦ 20,000,000,000) naira of its foreign exchange to import gypsum in three years.

In 2009, 2010, and 2011, the country spent about one billion, three hundred million naira (₦ 1,300,000,000), two billion, two hundred million naira (₦ 2,200,000,000) and three billion, two hundred million naira (₦ 3,200,000,000) on the importation of gypsum anhydrite and seven billion, one hundred million naira (₦ 7,100,000,000), two billion, seven hundred million naira (₦ 2,700,000,000) and three billion, one hundred million naira (₦ 3,100,000,000) on Plasters respectively.

Filax sponges are used in the production of gypsum boards. The filax sponge helps to strengthen the pop board formed, just same way iron rods helps to carry concrete.

Gypsum boards are light weight construction materials that are widely being used as walls, ceilings and for partitions in interiors or exteriors of residential or non-residential structures.

They are often called drywall, wallboard or plasterboard and can be directly attached to wood and metal framing or existing surfaces using screws, nails or adhesives. Gypsum boards provide sound control, versatility, quality, convenience and their non-combustible core makes them different from plywood, hardboard and fiberboard.

Thus, they have become prevalent and are serving as a speedier alternative to traditional lath and plaster.

The growth and demand for gypsum board in this sector has been further strengthened by the boom in the Nigerian real estate sector, which is growing faster than the average gross domestic product (GDP) at a rate of eight point seven percent (8.7%).

The growth in the hospitality industry and the advent of new malls, commercial complexes and multiplexes also lend support to the growth prospects of this industry.

Rising disposable incomes of the growing middle class and sixteen million (16,000,000) units of housing shortage, however, hold out a reassuring potential for the industry.