Gypsum Product Manufacturing in European Union 2026: Industry Statistics & Trends

The gypsum product manufacturing industry in the European Union produces essential plasterboard, plaster blocks, and acoustic panels used to finish walls, ceilings, and floors in modern building interiors. Driven by the EU's Decarbonisation and Green Deal targets, the market is pivoting rapidly toward circular economy principles, prefabrication, and lightweight dry-wall systems that minimize thermal leakage. This critical sector operates with an integrated footprint of extraction and processing, posting an industry turnover of EUR 7 billion in 2025 according to the latest official trade body figures from Eurogypsum. Despite high input costs and a slowing new-build real estate market across W

Industry snapshot

Key public data points

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What does the Gypsum Product Manufacturing in European Union industry cover?

This industry comprises manufacturing establishments that process raw gypsum mineral into construction elements. The primary product segments include gypsum wallboards, plasterboards, dry partitions, acoustic tiles, and decorative plaster moldings. It is characterized by high integration, with operators frequently owning the open-cast quarries that extract natural gypsum before processing the raw stone locally.

• •Classified under NACE Rev. 2 Code 23.62: 'Manufacture of plaster products for construction purposes'.
• •Includes plaster powder plants, plaster block plants, and highly complex high-speed plasterboard manufacturing lines.
• •Key output formats encompass standard wallboards, moisture-resistant boards, and high-performance fire-barrier systems.

Who operates in the industry and how is it structured?

The European gypsum sector is highly consolidated around a small number of dominant multinational corporations. According to industry data, the EU gypsum value chain operates approximately 146 manufacturing plants and manages 209 active quarries across the Member States. This structural footprint relies on a localized distribution model, as the low weight-to-value ratio of finished plasterboard restricts profitable road transport beyond a 300 to 400 kilometer radius.

• •The sector employs over 18,000 workers directly and sustains an estimated 300,000 indirect downstream roles in logistics and installation.
• •In 2025, Eurogypsum registered the overall industry turnover for both gypsum and anhydrite manufacturing in Europe at EUR 7 billion.
• •France is the leading individual producer of gypsum wallboards in the EU, commanding roughly 18% of the bloc's total annual capacity.

What drives demand in the industry?

Demand is heavily coupled with non-residential commercial fit-outs and residential building volumes. A major contemporary driver is the European Green Deal and the Renovation Wave strategy, which mandates the energy retrofitting of inefficient structural envelopes across the EU. Plasterboard is increasingly specified in these renovation works due to its ease of installation, lightweight thermal properties, and fire-resistant profile.

• •Over 61% of total demand in key markets historically stems from the residential sector, fueled by acoustic partition retrofits.
• •Prefabricated off-site construction methods are driving demand for customized gypsum board sizes to reduce active on-site labor.
• •A critical macro constraint is the supply of raw synthetic gypsum (FGD gypsum), which is falling due to the phased closure of coal plants across the EU.

Who are the notable companies in the industry?

The market is dominated by major global building materials groups with extensive regional manufacturing infrastructures. Competing firms emphasize technical innovation, sustainable carbon reduction, and proprietary lightweight composite systems. Key players operate extensive local subsidiaries to secure dominance in core geographic zones like France, Germany, and the Nordic nations.

• •Saint-Gobain SA (France), an international leader, introduced innovative circular solutions in 2025 like the Gyproc SoundBloc Infinaé made of recycled gypsum.
• •Knauf Gips KG (Germany) continues to expand its physical footprint, commissioning an EUR 80 million French plant in Fos-sur-Mer in late 2024.
• •Etex Group NV (Belgium) reported overall building performance segment resilience with total revenues reaching EUR 3,747 million in 2025.
• •Holcim Ltd (Switzerland) remains highly active in global dry-lining solutions through major plaster and gypsum product holdings.

What are the recent trends and outlook?

The industry's near-term focus is centered on decarbonization and production circularity. Manufacturers are investing in low-carbon production technologies, such as electrification of thermal calcining processes and transitioning from natural gas-fired kilns. Additionally, there is a strong movement towards building closed-loop recycling networks to recover construction waste directly from demolition sites.

• •In 2026, industry initiatives like the Industrial Accelerator Act (IAA) have gained strong advocacy to expedite funding for carbon-neutral manufacturing technologies.
• •Producers are targeting high-performance acoustic and moisture-resistant boards to command premium pricing amidst inflation.
• •The phasing out of coal-fired power is forcing companies to invest heavily in synthetic-to-natural gypsum processing line conversions.

How is the industry regulated?

European manufacturers must comply with rigorous environment, health, and safety benchmarks. The sector is heavily impacted by the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) due to the high heat intensity required during the calcination process. Additionally, the updated EU Construction Products Regulation (CPR) demands standardized Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs).

• •Under the EU ETS, production facilities face tightening carbon emission allocation benchmarks for gypsum calcination processes.
• •The EU's REACH regulation dictates strict material limits on additive compounds used in moisture-proofing treatments.
• •The CPR framework requires digitalized product passports detailing recycled content to verify circularity metrics.

Government, statistical and trade sources used for this Claight analysis.

• Eurogypsum European Gypsum Industry statistics 2025 ·
• Eurostat NACE Rev. 2 Structure and Codes ·
• European Commission DG Internal Market Industry Reports 2025-2026 ·
• Etex Group 2025 Annual Financial Report ·
• Saint-Gobain Universal Registration Document 2024