Gypsum Board Manufacturer in the Philippines: Market and Plant Planning

The only gypsum board manufacturer in the Philippines named in the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) 2023 initiation report is Knauf Gypsum Philippines, at Calaca, Batangas. World Bank WITS data show about 57,000 t of board imports in 2023, mostly from Thailand, and a five-year anti-dumping duty began in February 2026. A new plant must rest on more than that duty.

This is desk research from the public sources listed at the end, written for an investor or building-products group testing the idea. It treats the Philippines as an import market. For Thailand as the rock and export base, read our companion note on gypsum board manufacturers in Thailand.

Gypsum Board Manufacturer in the Philippines: One Local Plant

A new entrant would be the second local maker of paper-faced board, on the public record we could find. DTI’s 2023 initiation report describes the Calaca plant’s owner as the only domestic manufacturer. BusinessWorld in 2023 and a 2025 report on the DTI order used the same description.

That single-producer structure cuts both ways. There is no crowded local field. But Global Gypsum reported in 2025 that local production had fallen from 2022 levels as imports rose, which suggests the incumbent has room to make more board before any newcomer sells a sheet. Ask how much of the market is truly unserved, and how much the incumbent could win back.

Gypsum Board in the Philippines: Imports Led by Thailand

Thailand supplied about 68% of recorded Philippine board imports in 2023, on World Bank WITS data for HS 6809.11. Thailand’s own export figure, 39,664 t, is close to the Philippine figure, so this flow looks reliable.

The Philippines recorded under 14 t of board exports in 2023, so this is a one-way market on the data.

The longer series shows that import volume moves with the incumbent’s own sourcing, not just with demand:

BusinessWorld reports that the local producer began replacing its own imports from Thailand with local manufacturing in 2021. On our reading, that helps explain the early fall. One caution: the DTI report gives a slightly different 2021 figure elsewhere (44,597 t) and does not reconcile the two.

What the imports mean in square meters

All recorded imports in 2023 equal about 6.3 million m², as our estimate, assuming 9 kg/m² for 12 mm board. For scale, our reference line makes 3,000,000 m² a year on a 12 mm basis. Winning all of the import volume is not a realistic plan, so size the plant on the share you can actually take.

What the Anti-Dumping Duty Does and Does Not Protect

The Philippine anti-dumping duty on Thai board, in force since February 2026 under a DTI order, covers only part of the import market and is not permanent. It should not be the main reason for building.

Investigators found that dumped imports were 71% of imports from 2019 to September 2024 and almost 40% of consumption. That is why the case succeeded, and it also shows how large the Thai position was. Indonesian and Chinese board, about 30% of 2023 imports, faces no duty under this order.

Our judgment: model the plant with no duty at all, then treat the duty as upside. If the project works only with 9%, it is exposed from the first review onward. Take trade-law advice on whether a future exporter or a new origin could fill the gap.

Rock Supply: Imported Natural Gypsum, Now Duty-Free

A plant in the Philippines should be planned on imported rock, delivered through its own or a nearby port. USGS does not list the Philippines among its named gypsum producers in 2026, and Global Gypsum reported in 2023 that Executive Order No. 46 states there are no operating natural gypsum or anhydrite mines in the country. Check this with the Mines and Geosciences Bureau before ruling out local rock.

Four facts shape the purchase:

• The tariff has been cut. The duty on natural gypsum and anhydrite fell from 3% to 0% under Executive Order No. 46 in late 2023, for five years with annual review, so confirm the current rate with the Tariff Commission.
• Thai rock is not automatically the answer. The incumbent moved to Omani rock to meet its quality standards, according to its 2023 tariff petition, even though Thai rock already enjoyed zero duty. Test samples from each origin.
• Sources shift. From 2018 to 2022, Oman supplied 54.1% and Thailand 43.3% of 2.9 million t. The 2023 Korean tonnage is a clear change, and we could not establish what that material is or who buys it.
• The volume is manageable. Our reference line uses 7.0 kg of stucco per m², and 1 t of stucco takes about 1.19 t of pure gypsum, so one line is a small share of these imports. Availability is less of a risk than quality and delivered cost.

The Times of Oman reports that Oman Minerals Trading Company, the trading arm of Minerals Development Oman, holds the exclusive right to export Omani gypsum as of June 2026, so a supply term sheet should come before site selection. For the test plan, see natural vs synthetic gypsum.

Gypsum Board Standard Size in the Philippines

The common board format in the Philippines is 1,220 × 2,440 mm (4 × 8 ft), mostly 9–16 mm thick, and the common reference is ASTM C1396. That differs from the 1,200 mm width often assumed elsewhere.

We did not find a Philippine National Standard (PNS) for gypsum board in any of these documents, which does not prove that none exists. Ask the Bureau of Philippine Standards whether a PNS or a product mark applies to your board, then check the current edition.

For the line specification, this matters directly. Our reference line runs boards 1.2 m wide and 6–25 mm thick. Thickness fits, but do not assume a 1,220 mm product does: state both widths and the 2,440 mm length in your brief, and ask each supplier what changes at forming, cutting and the dryer. Our notes on ASTM C1396 and gypsum board standard sizes give the wider picture.

Climate and Utilities in the Philippines: Humidity, Typhoons, Gas and 60 Hz

Climate and utilities both change the line brief: humidity favors special boards, and gas supply and grid frequency need early checks. Climate gives moisture-resistant board more weight here than in the Gulf, and that overlaps neatly with the goods excluded from the duty. PAGASA, the national weather agency, reports average monthly relative humidity between 71% in March and 85% in September. It also says about 20 tropical cyclones a year enter its monitored area, with 8 or 9 crossing the country.

What this means for a plant:

1. Plan the additive dosing from the outset. The local moisture-resistant product is described as using siloxane and water-repellent additives. See moisture-resistant gypsum board and mold-resistant gypsum board.
2. Include Type X. DPWH names it in public works specifications. See Type X fire-resistant board.
3. Protect stock. Paper and finished board need dry storage at a site exposed to storms and humidity. Allow for this in the building plan and the insurance.

We have no public data on how much of the market is moisture-resistant, and customs data do not split it clearly. Ask distributors for their sales mix before you commit to a specialty thesis. Also, others are moving: a Thai-based group launched gypsum board in the country, including a moisture-resistant product, and plans wider coverage.

Fuel and power

Our reference line burns 1.5–2.0 million m³ of natural gas a year and has 600–800 kW installed.

• Gas. The Department of Energy projected Malampaya’s depletion by early 2027, and a 2025 GIIGNL report says the country has two LNG terminals with more planned. Whether regasified LNG can reach your plot by pipe or truck is a site question. Ask for quotations on LPG or other fuels as well, with consumption stated for each.
• Power. The Philippines is listed at 230 V and 60 Hz. Many lines from China are designed around 50 Hz, so state 60 Hz in your brief, and ask each supplier what it changes in motors and drives.

Where a Second Plant Could Make Sense

A second plant looks most defensible when it has a geographic or product reason to exist, not when it simply copies the Luzon incumbent. These are our readings of the evidence above, not findings from a source.

Build the financial model yourself, using gypsum board plant cost for the cost blocks and reading the gypsum board market for the method.

FAQ

Is there a gypsum board manufacturer in the Philippines?

Yes. Knauf Gypsum Philippines runs a plant at Calaca, Batangas, which DTI described in 2023 as the only domestic manufacturer. At least one Thai-based group also sells gypsum board locally, but public sources we read did not describe local board production by it. Confirm newer entrants with distributors before you size the competition.

What is the gypsum board standard size in the Philippines?

The common size is 1,220 × 2,440 mm, or 4 × 8 ft. Local product pages and the DTI report list thicknesses from 9 to 16 mm, including 9, 12 and 15 mm. Public works specifications cite ASTM C1396 and mention 1,200 mm widths, so check the width stated in each project specification and tell every line supplier which sizes you need.

Does the Philippines have its own gypsum?

Probably not in usable volume. Executive Order No. 46 of 2023 reportedly states that no natural gypsum mines operate in the country, and USGS does not name it among listed producers. The country recorded about 816,000 t of gypsum imports in 2023, mainly from Korea and Oman. Ask the Mines and Geosciences Bureau about local deposits, and test any sample before you rely on it for board.

Does the anti-dumping duty stop Thai gypsum board imports?

No. It adds a duty of 8.52% to 9.18% of export price on standard paper-faced board from Thailand for five years from February 27, 2026. Specialty and technical boards are excluded, and other origins are not covered. Thai board can still enter, so a new plant should test its economics both with and without the duty.

Which frequency should a gypsum board line use in the Philippines?

The Philippines is listed at 230 V and 60 Hz, unlike many Asian markets on 50 Hz. Put 60 Hz in the requirement brief, and ask each supplier to confirm what it means for motors, drives and spare parts. Confirm connection voltage and available capacity for your plot with the local distribution utility as well.

Planning a Gypsum Board Line for the Philippines?

Once rock, fuel and customers are confirmed, the gypsum board production line page shows the sections and consumption of our reference design, and the gypsum board plant setup guide sets out the planning steps. YuxingCorp is a Singapore company that compares lines from vetted manufacturers in China; import clearance, duties and local registration stay with the buyer.

Sources

• World Bank WITS, Philippines HS 680911 imports, 2023: https://wits.worldbank.org/trade/comtrade/en/country/PHL/year/2023/tradeflow/Imports/partner/ALL/product/680911
• World Bank WITS, Philippines HS 680911 exports, 2023: https://wits.worldbank.org/trade/comtrade/en/country/PHL/year/2023/tradeflow/Exports/partner/ALL/product/680911
• World Bank WITS, Philippines HS 252010 imports, 2023: https://wits.worldbank.org/trade/comtrade/en/country/PHL/year/2023/tradeflow/Imports/partner/ALL/product/252010
• World Bank WITS, Thailand HS 680911 exports, 2023: https://wits.worldbank.org/trade/comtrade/en/country/THA/year/2023/tradeflow/Exports/partner/ALL/product/680911
• DTI, gypsum board anti-dumping initiation report, public version (2023): https://dtiwebfiles.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/Advisories/AD+Gypsum+Board+Initiation+Report+-+Public+Version.pdf
• PortCalls, BOC implements anti-dumping duty on Thai gypsum board (February 2026): https://portcalls.com/boc-implements-anti-dumping-duty-on-thai-gypsum-board/
• BusinessWorld, anti-dumping measure on gypsum board (2026): https://www.bworldonline.com/?p=733744
• BusinessWorld, local producer at the Tariff Commission (2025): https://www.bworldonline.com/?p=663015
• BusinessWorld, natural gypsum tariff petition (2023): https://www.bworldonline.com/?p=507571
• thephilbiznews.com, DTI order on Thai gypsum board (July 2025): https://thephilbiznews.com/?p=62755
• thephilbiznews.com, Thai-based group launches gypsum board in the Philippines (November 2024): https://thephilbiznews.com/?p=56402
• Global Gypsum, Philippines news archive: https://www.globalgypsum.com/news/itemlist/tag/Philippines
• Manila Bulletin, gypsum board manufacturer seeks duty exemption (February 2023): https://mb.com.ph/2023/2/28/gypsum-board-manufacturer-seeks-duty-exemption-on-imported-raw-materials
• USGS, Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026: Gypsum: https://pubs.usgs.gov/periodicals/mcs2026/mcs2026-gypsum.pdf
• Times of Oman, gypsum exports in 2025: https://timesofoman.com/article/176832-omans-gypsum-exports-reached-142mn-tonnes-in-2025
• Knauf Philippines, StandardShield product page: https://knauf.com/en-PH/p/product/standardshield-9mm-10002_0738
• Knauf Philippines, MoistureShield product page: https://knauf.com/en-PH/p/product/moistureshield-9mm-13140_0738
• DPWH, Department Order 105, Series of 2015, Item 1041 Gypsum Board: https://www.dpwh.gov.ph/dpwh/sites/default/files/issuances/DO_105_S2015.pdf
• PAGASA, Climate of the Philippines: https://bagong.pagasa.dost.gov.ph/information/climate-philippines
• PAGASA, Tropical cyclone information: https://bagong.pagasa.dost.gov.ph/climate/tropical-cyclone-information
• Philippine Daily Inquirer, PH banks on LNG (March 2023): https://business.inquirer.net/390851/ph-banks-on-lng-to-help-avoid-power-shortage
• GIIGNL, Philippines to increase LNG imports (July 2025): https://www.giignl.org/news/philippines-to-increase-its-lng-imports-to-cope-with-gas-field-depletion
• World Standards, voltage and frequency by country: https://www.worldstandards.eu/electricity/plug-voltage-by-country/