2008 Top Companies Report

It's that time of year again for Coatings World's Top Companies Report. In the pages that follow you will find our annual ranking of the leaders in the global coatings industry. Every year we list the leading manufacturers in the world, based on sales of paint, coatings, adhesives and sealants and offer a snapshot of key events that unfolded during the year such as acquisition activity, new product launches or management changes.

Profiling so many companies, common themes begin to emerge. While the rising cost of raw materials and the formulation of greener technology are major driving forces in today's industry among the largest coatings companies, globalization continues to be the major trend influencing the top paint, coatings, adhesives and sealants firms. As has been the case for the past several years, the Asia Pacific region is the hottest spot, particularly China, and is fueling much of the growth. However, we also notice that more coatings firms are becoming bullish on Eastern Europe, particularly Russia and the Middle East are also becoming more ripe for growth opportunities with an increase in capital expenditure in the region.

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