As we are getting ready to usher in the new year, the COVID-19 pandemic continues to wreak havoc on the global economy.

Our European correspondent, Sean Milmo, reports that “after a brief rebound in the summer and early autumn of 2020, it became clear by the fourth quarter of the year that the economic revival would be less robust than expected and may even be delayed.” 

This slowdown in recovery can, at least partially, be attributed to the second wave of COVID-19 hitting Europe. This second wave has been more severe than initially predicted, and in some regions is leading to more restrictions and lockdowns.

This month Shem Oirere, our Africa correspondent reports on how COVID-19 has negatively impacted South Africa’s demand for zinc coatings. He reported that some zinc coatings makers predict tough times for the market as uncertainty looms due to the evolving nature of COVID-19 that had by Dec. 20, 2020, infected nearly 922,000 people in South Africa and killed an estimated 24,000 others.

The outlook is not entirely gloomy for 2021. In this month’s feature article, “Interior Architectural Coatings Market,” companies report the market has benefited from the boost in DIY projects driven by the lockdown.

“People’s homes became the focal point of activity and have become central to their lives during this global pandemic,” said Kathryn Ledson, global marketing director, Consumer Paints at AkzoNobel. “Families are living, educating, working and getting creative indoors, sometimes all at once. So it’s no surprise that people have reconsidered their environment and are taking advantage of the time to refresh their homes. Some are creating colorful workspaces out of necessity, others are refreshing the spaces that they are now spending more time in. People who have put off home improvement jobs have utilized the time normally spent on travel and entertainment to carry out their renovations. And people looking to attain new skills have often opted to learn DIY skills.”

“The pandemic has encouraged many of us to take another look at our spaces and adapt them to our new needs,” said Erika Woelfel, vice president of color, Behr. “In both the residential and commercial coatings industries, we’ve learned this year more than ever that paint color is a powerful way to transform a space to positively influence and elevate an environment and provide a sense of comfort.”

As this issue goes to print the first round of COVID-19 vaccines have become available in the U.S. and Europe. My hope is this glimmer of good news is a sign that 2021 will be a year for recovery and growth.