Research from RnRMarketResearch.com, World Drywall & Building Plaster to 2018, indicates that global demand for drywall will rise around five per cent per annum through 2018 to roughly 10 billion square metres.

Commenting on the market report, the Gypsum Products Development Association (GPDA), secretary, Crispin Dunn-Meynell, said: “Today’s gypsum-based plasterboard systems provide a cost effective, lightweight yet highly durable construction solution for internal walls, ceilings and partitions which can deliver savings in overall design and build costs compared to masonry alternatives.”

Innovation in plasterboard technology has led to the rapid adoption of specialist boards which deliver advanced acoustic, fire, thermal and structural performance. “According to our members,” continued Mr Dunn-Meynell, “these technical boards now account for nearly half of all plasterboard sold in the UK.”

Growing demand for green building products is also contributing to the increased use of plasterboard. “Continuous improvements in manufacturing and distribution by our members have made plasterboard a sustainable solution in its own right,” Mr Dunn-Meynell commented.

Most plasterboard today contains a significant percentage of recycled material within both the gypsum cores and paper liners and the boards themselves are recyclable. For their part, GPDA members have invested both directly and through third parties to provide routes for segregated, clean plasterboard waste to be delivered to reprocessing stations.

GPDA represents the four major gypsum board and plaster manufacturers: British Gypsum, Knauf, and Siniat in Britain, and Gyproc in Ireland.