As we do every year, Coatings World has compiled its Top Companies Report. This is one of our most popular issues, offering our readers a comprehensive look at the top players in the paint, coatings, adhesives and sealants industry.
2012 was a busy year in terms of acquisitions. Comex (ranked 14 last year) was acquired by Sherwin-Williams, Forbo (ranked 29 last year) was acquired by H.B. Fuller, Spraylat (ranked 59 last year) was bought by PPG and Inver Spa (ranked 60 last year) was bought by Valspar.

In terms of the top 10, there were little surprises. AkzoNobel once again claimed the highest rank.  As the world’s largest coatings manufacturer, the company reported a five percent increase in revenues in 2012. The company continued to expand store networks in China and India and in a major move, it divested its North American decorative coatings business to PPG (ranked number two).  When finalized, this transaction will further expand PPG’s coatings portfolio and establish the company as the number one architectural coatings company in Canada and the Caribbean and number two in the U.S.  Sherwin-Williams (ranked number four) saw its Latin America Coatings Group bolstered with the acquisition of Comex. The combined company will have $10 billion in sales. Axalta Coatings Systems (formerly known as DuPont Performance Coatings) once again ranked number five. The company announced ambitious plans to cash in on China’s expanding automobile production by investing $50 million to construct a new facility in China to manufacture and supply up to 25,000 metric tons of paint to automobile manufacturers in the south and central regions of the country.

The global coatings market is valued at $96.8 billion. North America comprises $26.1 billion, Europe $28.2 billion, the Pacific region $26.6 billion and the ROW $15.89 billion. From well-known multi-nationals to smaller more regional companies, the paint, coatings, adhesives and sealants industry is diverse and vibrant. I hope you enjoyed learning more about it and welcome your feedback on how we can improve the report for next year.