Iraq gypsum mining is a dusty endeavour – in pictures

Gypsum demand is set to grow over the next decade as construction ramps up across Asia and the west. Iraq has long been a producer of the raw material.

A worker covered in dust at a gypsum factory in the Makhmur district, Iraq. Azad Lashkari / Reuters

Iraq has long been a producer of gypsum and demand is likely to increase over the next 10 years. According to The Future of Gypsum: Market Forecasts to 2026, the global gypsum market is valued at US$1.49 billion in 2016, equivalent to 252 million tonnes, with 33.3 per cent and 60.9 per cent being consumed in the plasterboard and cement industries, respectively. According to Smithers Apex, the gypsum market is forecast to grow at a CAGR of 9.9 per cent to reach nearly $2.4bn by 2018 and $3.8bn by 2026. Nearly all gypsum is used in three prime applications: building construction, cement and agriculture. Another common application is wet or powdered plaster. Minor applications include dentistry and surgical and medical,such as plaster casts.

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