WASHINGTON, DC – The United States gypsum board industry achieved its highest rate of annual shipments ever in calendar year 2005 when the U.S. manufacturers of gypsum board (also known as wallboard or drywall) shipped a total of 36.16 billion square feet of material. This volume represents a substantial increase in shipments over the same 12-month period of 2004 when 34.25 billion square feet of board were shipped. The 2005 figure represents the fifth consecutive year of increased shipments for the U.S. gypsum board manufacturing industry.

Shipments from Canadian manufacturers also rose for the fifth consecutive year as production increased from 3.55 billion square feet in 2004 to 3.58 square feet in 2005.

The Gypsum Association is in its 76th year of service as the technical, promotion, and information center of the gypsum industry. The Association, representing companies located throughout the United States and Canada, is based in Washington, DC. Additional data on gypsum board shipments can be obtained by accessing the organization’s Web site at www.gypsum.org.