German building giant to construct multi-million plant in Kazakhstan

Knauf, a Germany-based manufacturer of building materials, is set to establish a $30.5 million dry gypsum mix production plant in Kazakhstan’s Zhambyl region. The parties have already signed an investment agreement, as reported by Kazakhstan’s Foreign Ministry.

The facility will have an annual production capacity of 225,000 tons, with 80% of the output intended for domestic distribution and the remaining 20% designated for export to Eurasian Economic Union member states and countries in Central Asia. The plant is expected to employ 100 people.

Raw materials for the plant will be sourced from the Ulken-Burultau deposit, where Knauf already holds an operating license. The deposit is estimated to hold approximately 84 million tons of reserves.

«Kazakhstan is a priority market for our regional business development. The country offers a strong raw material base, a growing market and a welcoming investment climate. We are pleased to continue expanding our presence and contribute to the growth of the construction sector,» said Alexander Blumhardt, authorized representative for CIS countries at Knauf’s Managing Partners.   

Knauf, founded in Germany in 1932, is a multinational group engaged in the production of building and finishing materials. The group is one of the global leaders in drywall systems, plaster, thermal and acoustic insulation, and other construction solutions.

In 2024, Knauf Gruppe, GP Günter Papenburg AG, Roxtec and the German Institute for Technologies and Economics of Lithium (ITEL) formed a consortium to explore and produce lithium in Kazakhstan.