BPB is pleased to announce that it is to construct a new plasterboard plant with an initial annual capacity of 30 million square metres at Changzhou in Jiangsu province, Eastern China, building on the group’s established market presence in Shanghai.


The group’s new £20 million plant, which is designed for low capital intensity and will be supplied with desulphogypsum from a nearby coal-fired power utility, will operate at world class standards and be ready in early 2007 to meet expected sales volume growth in the country’s economically important and growing eastern region.


Commenting on the group’s planned capacity expansion, Richard Cousins, BPB chief executive said:


“China’s economic performance and urbanisation trend continue to be robust, driving double-digit sales growth for plasterboard in the commercial sector and providing early signs of substantial potential for residential demand.


The country’s eastern region represents a significant emerging market opportunity for BPB and our new plant will establish a more efficient cost base and improve customer service levels, significantly strengthening our representation in one of Asia’s major and rapidly developing plasterboard markets.”

• BPB is the world leader in the supply of plasterboard and gypsum plasters, and a major supplier of insulation, ceiling tiles and related products for internal linings, serving growing markets for building systems in over 50 countries.