Top Companies Report

The Big Get Bigger in a Year of Ups and Downs
Welcome to Coatings World's 2001 Top Companies Report, our annual profile of the leading paint, coatings, adhesives and sealants companies in the world. This year's report profiles 52 coatings companies with annual sales of more than $100 million, plus a handful of firms to keep an eye on as they grow their operations in this competitive market.

As a number of you can attest, 2000 was an up-and-down year for many of the firms listed here. Some companies reported declining sales, others saw their sales rise. A main trend, of course, is that the big keep getting bigger-14 companies topped the billion dollar mark in this year's report. Furthermore, consolidation that spread like wildfire through the industry has-for the time being-slowed as more companies look to identify core businesses and sound strategies.

Our ranking is based on annual sales of paint, coatings, adhesives and sealants. For companies based outside the U.S., sales are translated into U.S. dollars using the company's year-end closing date.

Christine Can