The value of exported paint made from synthetic or chemically modified natural polymers amounted to $21 billion or 96.8% of the global total in 2019. Just 3.2% of the global total ($696.8 million) represents paint made from non-synthetic ingredients.
Among continents, European countries sold the highest dollar worth of exported paint during 2019 with shipments totaling $13.5 billion or over three-fifths (62.1%) of the overall total. In second place were Asian exporters at 21.7% while 13.5% of worldwide paint shipments originated from North America. Smaller percentages came from Latin America (1.5%) excluding Mexico but including the Caribbean, Africa (0.7%), and Oceania (0.5%) led by Australia and New Zealand.
For research purposes, the 4-digit Harmonized Tariff System code prefixes are 3208 and 3209 for paints and varnishes including enamels and lacquers based on synthetic or chemically modified natural polymers. Paints from other materials fall under the 3210 code prefix. Excluded from this research are prepared pigments, opacifiers and colors classified under 3207.
Top Paint Exports by Country
Overall
Overall, the 20 countries below exported the highest dollar value worth of paint during 2019.
- Germany: US$3.7 billion (16.8% of total paint exports)
- United States: $2.4 billion (11.2%)
- Japan: $1.9 billion (8.5%)
- Italy: $1.7 billion (7.6%)
- Netherlands: $1.14 billion (5.2%)
- France: $1.08 billion (5%)
- Belgium: $970.6 million (4.5%)
- United Kingdom: $960.4 million (4.4%)
- Spain: $759.8 million (3.5%)
- South Korea: $663.3 million (3.1%)
- China: $640.6 million (2.9%)
- Poland: $571.5 million (2.63%)
- Sweden: $532.3 million (2.5%)
- Canada: $381.8 million (1.8%)
- Austria: $348.3 million (1.6%)
- Switzerland: $295.3 million (1.36%)
- Singapore: $274.1 million (1.26%)
- Malaysia: $268.4 million (1.23%)
- Turkey: $218 million (1%)
- Finland: $209.7 million (0.96%)
Among the above countries, the fastest-growing paint exporters since 2015 were: Poland (up 46.1%), Japan (up 25.1%), Netherlands (up 23.3%) and Finland (up 22.9%).
Those countries that posted declines in their exported paint sales were led by: Singapore (down -26.1%), China (down -13.7%), Switzerland (down -9.5%) and Turkey (down -5%).
By value, the listed 20 countries shipped 87% of all paint exported in 2019.
Synthetic
Below are the 20 countries that exported in 2019 the highest dollar value worth of paint made from synthetic or chemically modified natural polymers.
- Germany: US$3.5 billion (16.8% of synthetic paint exports)
- United States of America: $2.4 billion (11.3%)
- Japan: $1.8 billion (8.7%)
- Italy: $1.6 billion (7.6%)
- Netherlands: $1.11 billion (5.3%)
- France: $1.07 billion (5.1%)
- Belgium: $953.4 million (4.5%)
- United Kingdom: $935.3 million (4.4%)
- Spain: $734.9 million (3.5%)
- Korea, Republic of: $626.2 million (3%)
- China: $615.2 million (2.9%)
- Poland: $558.2 million (2.7%)
- Sweden: $511.1 million (2.4%)
- Canada: $380.5 million (1.8%)
- Austria: $344.1 million (1.6%)
- Malaysia: $263.9 million (1.3%)
- Singapore: $251.5 million (1.2%)
- Switzerland: $251 million (1.2%)
- Finland: $203.9 million (1%)
Among the above countries, the fastest-growing exporters of synthetic paint since 2015 were: Poland (up 44.2%), Netherlands (up 26.2%), Japan (up 24.6%) and Finland (up 24.3%).
Four countries posted declines in their international sales of synthetic paint: Singapore (down -26.7%), China (down -14.1%), Switzerland (down -10.5%) and Sweden (down -1.5%).
By value, the listed 15 countries shipped 87.2% of all synthetic paint exports in 2019.
Other
Below are the 20 countries that exported in 2019 the highest dollar value worth of paint made from materials other than synthetic or chemically modified natural polymers.
- Germany: US$112.1 million (16.1% of exported other paint)
- United States: $60.5 million (8.7%)
- Italy: $57.1 million (8.2%)
- Taiwan: $45.9 million (6.6%)
- Switzerland: $44.4 million (6.4%)
- South Korea: $37.2 million (5.3%)
- Netherlands: $32.2 million (4.6%)
- Japan: $29.8 million (4.3%)
- China: $25.5 million (3.7%)
- United Kingdom: $25.1 million (3.6%)
- Spain: $24.9 million (3.6%)
- Singapore: $22.6 million (3.2%)
- Turkey: $22.4 million (3.2%)
- Sweden: $21.2 million (3%)
- Belgium: $17.2 million (2.5%)
- Poland: $13.3 million (1.9%)
- France: $11.8 million (1.7%)
- Hong Kong: $8.1 million (1.2%)
- Barbados: $6.4 million (0.9%)
- Belarus: $6.1 million (0.9%)
Among the above countries, the fastest-growing other paint exporters since 2015 were: Poland (up 241.7%), South Korea (up 107%), Japan (up 69.5%) and Barbados (up 27.6%).
Those countries that posted declines in their international sales of other paint were led by: Belarus (down -87.3%), Netherlands (down -31.6%), Spain (down -25.5%) and the United Kingdom (down -21.6%).
By value, the listed 15 countries shipped 89.5% of all other paint exports in 2019.
Companies
Top Paint Manufacturers
According to the Coatings World’s 2019 Top Companies Report, below are the global leaders in manufacturing paints and coatings. Shown within parentheses is the city and country serving as home to the headquarters for each business.
- Aldera (Turkey)
- Cucku Enterprises Private Limited (India)
- Gervais Henri Florent (France)
- Ghoenert Verwaltungs GMBH (Germany)
- Healthy Food Ltd (Hong Kong)
- Intertransproduct LLC (Ukraine)
- Land Growers Chile Exportaciones Y Asesorias LtdA (Chile)
- Marandi Trading & Marketing SRL (Romania)
- Mave Enterprises Inc (United States)
- Qingdao Sunfine Co, Ltd (China)
The above companies are listed in descending order based on annual sales.
See also Exported Paintings and Drawings by Country, Grapes Exports by Country and Top Soft Drinks Exporters by Country
Research Sources:
Central Intelligence Agency, The World Factbook Field Listing: Exports – Commodities. Accessed on May 30, 2020
Coatings World, Top manufacturers of paints, coatings, adhesives, and sealants: 2019 Report, Central Intelligence Agency. Accessed on May 30, 2020
Forbes Global 2000 rankings, The World’s Biggest Public Companies. Accessed on May 30, 2020
International Trade Centre, Trade Map. Accessed on May 30, 2020
Investopedia, Net Exports Definition. Accessed on May 30, 2020
Wikipedia, Paint. Accessed on May 30, 2020