Following the continued closure of Chambishi Metals […]

Following the continued closure of Chambishi Metals since 2020, Zambia’s now only official gypsum producer, United Gypsum, has come under scrutiny as industry players raise concerns over a steep increase in gypsum prices. Reports from industry players suggest that prices have nearly tripled, from approximately $35 per tonne to as much as $105 per tonne, since Chambishi Metals exited the market.

This represents a staggering 200% increase and United Gypsum, now the country’s sole official gypsum producer following Chambishi Metals’ shutdown in 2020, has become the focal point for these concerns.

In January 2020, the Zambian Business Times (ZBT) reported that the closure and placement of Chambishi Metals on care and maintenance threatened to escalate construction costs, given the company’s role as Zambia’s primary gypsum supplier, a critical raw material in cement manufacturing among others.

When contacted by the Zambian Business Times (ZBT), United Gypsum’s Sales and Marketing Director, Hassan Ahmed, declined to provide detailed answers regarding the pricing changes. “Chambishi has been closed for a very long time, so I don’t understand these concerns. They are not our concerns. We have no comment on this subject,” Ahmed stated, adding that questions regarding their pricing and production levels were confidential.

 Government data also indicates that United Gypsum’s production increased by 42% in 2025 compared to 2024, a development that has drawn further attention from industry observers.

 However, Ahmed refrained from attributing this growth to any particular factors, reiterating his company’s policy of not disclosing information to the media or non-clients.

 When pressed on whether United Gypsum’s prices have indeed risen to the reported levels, Ahmed declined to comfirm nor deny but dismissed the figures as “inaccurate”. “Our prices are fair and our clients have been buying for years without issue.”

 Despite persistent queries from ZBT regarding the reasons for the price surge and the company’s current pricing, Ahmed maintained that such information remains confidential and declined to provide further details.

 As prices continue to climb and concerns mount among stakeholders, questions remain about the long-term impact on Zambia’s construction and manufacturing industries in the wake of reduced competition in the gypsum supply chain.

Article by Tyndale Muchiya