Powder Coatings

The global powder coatings market has grown from $3.6 billion in 2001 to $4.5 billion in 2006. Asia Pacific has led the globe in growth, while Europe has been flat and North Americ has grown at a 3.5% annual rate.

"Today's powder coatings market is relatively healthy, although the emergence of small local producers has created over capacity in the industrial segments, putting pressure on margins," said Claudio Iurilli, divisional marketing manager, Jotun Power Coatings. "The raw material price hikes and the heightened competition in emerging markets are likely to emphasize this trend even further in 2009.

"Although powder coatings are used in a number of applications where stringent performance requirements need to be met, in certain markets, especially in Asia Pacific, the technology still suffers from the 'commodity syndrome,'" Iurilli continued. "Increasing the awareness among architects, specifiers and OEMs on the merits of powder coatings is crucial to building confidence in the technology and reduce the perceived risk associated with the conversion from liquid to powder coatings in regards to certain ap