New Latin American Paint Federation Formed

A new, region-wide paint and coatings association in Latin America, the Federación Latinoamericana de Fabricantes de Pinturas, or Latin American Federation of Paint Manufacturers, has formally launched with a headquarters in Mexico, and officers in Brazil and Argentina. Latinpat, as one source labels the new organization, is headed by Javier Maldonado Moctezuma, the general director of PSI Pinturas, based in the city and state of Puebla.

The Latin American paint market is estimated at $10 billion, and growing a percentage point or two faster than regional GDP, which is forecast by the World Bank to strengthen from 1.9 percent in 2014, to 2.9 percent in 2015 and 3.5 percent in 2016.

“Out goal is to slowing draw in all the countries of the region from our starting base of six signatories. For those countries without a dedicated paint and coatings organization, we hope to help them launch one, with the ultimate goal of cooperating with international paint and coating organizations,” said Maldonado. Also a past president of Mexico’s Asociacion Nacional de Fabricantes de Pinturas y Tintas (Anafapyt), Maldonado is a champion of small business, and also served as the president of the Red Mexicana de Franquicias, or Mexican Franchise Network.

In promotion of small and medium paint and coatings companies in Mexico, Maldonado pointed out that of Anafapyt’s total membership of some 300 companies, 80 percent are small and medium in size. Further, he noted, half of those companies had the capability to export products, out of the more than 600 million liters they produce annually.

During his tenure as president of Anafapyt, he opined that the proposed merger of Sherwin-Williams and Comex would not have a negative impact on the Mexican paint and coatings industry overall; he welcomed the potential of a greater flow of technology into the country.

“Among follow-on goals are to help countries establish more global norms for contents, including materials like lead, water-based products and other elements,” said Maldonado. “Beyond that, technical training, the Care program, logistics, and statistics are areas where we can cooperate,” he said.

The first country signatories to the Latinpat organization are: Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico and Uruguay. Thus far, Brazil – home of the Associacao das Fabricantes de Tintas (Abrafati) – and Mexico have the strongest national paint associations. Assisting Maldonado as the first president are vice presidents from Brazil and Argentina. The location of the federation will travel with the president until a permanent headquarters is selected, he said.

Maldonado’s company PSI Pinturas is a full-portfolio manufacturer of paint and coatings products that distributes through a network of 32 franchises thus far. “We have an aggressive program in place to reach 500 franchises over the next five years,” says Maldonado. These franchises would primarily serve the Mexican market but could also serve some neighboring countries through master franchise networks, he added.

Among brands PSI produces in the market leading acrylic architectural line are: PSI; Betavin; Royal Tone and Royal Paint; Sella Class; Tinta Class and Tintas Concentradas.