World Demand for Drywall to Increase

World demand for drywall is expected to grow 4.4 percent per year through 2009, according to a report from the Cleveland-based market research firm the Freedonia Group.

Gypsum-based building plaster sales will rise a slower 3.7 percent per year through 2009, according to the study.

Demand for drywall is concentrated in North America, which accounted for 54 percent of global sales in 2004, the Freedonia group reports. However, through 2009, market gains in North America will significantly lag behind other regions, primarily because of maturation in the large U.S. market and declines in U.S. housing starts. Gains will be particularly strong in the Asia/Pacific region, Portugal and Spain.

Drywall based on synthetic gypsum will continue to account for an increasing share of global demand through 2009, the study predicts.