Total combined exports of different types of paint from all countries totaled US$24.9 billion in 2021. That dollar amount reflects an average 19.3% increase for global paint shippers from $20.9 billion for five years earlier in 2017.

Year over year, international sales of exported paints accelerated by 15.1% compared to $21.6 billion during 2020.

The value of exported paint made from synthetic or chemically modified natural polymers amounted to $24.1 billion or 96.9% of the global total in 2021. Just 3.1% of the global total ($773.6 million) was specific to paints made from non-synthetic ingredients.

The top 5 exporters encompassing all types of paint are Germany, United States of America, Japan, Italy, and the Netherlands. Collectively, that cohort of suppliers approached half (48.6%) of exports sales for paints during 2021.

Among continents, European countries sold the highest dollar worth of exported paint during 2021 with shipments totaling $15.5 billion or more than three-fifths (62.3%) of the overall total. In second place were Asian paint exporters at 21.8% while another 12.3% of worldwide paint shipments originated from North America.

Tinier percentages came from Latin America (1.7%) excluding Mexico but including the Caribbean, Africa (1.3%), then Oceania (0.6%) 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, the 20 countries below exported the highest dollar value worth of paint during 2021.

1. Germany: US$4.2 billion (16.9% of total paint exports)
2. United States of America: $2.5 billion (10.1%)
3. Japan: $2.1 billion (8.5%)
4. Italy: $2 billion (7.9%)
5. Netherlands: $1.3 billion (5.3%)
6. France: $1.2 billion (4.8%)
7. Belgium: $1.1 billion (4.2%)
8. United Kingdom: $1.1 billion (4.2%)
9. Spain: $849.2 million (3.4%)
10. Poland: $710.2 million (2.9%)
11. China: $707.4 million (2.8%)
12. Korea, Republic of: $682.7 million (2.74%)
13. Sweden: $615 million (2.5%)
14. Austria: $438.9 million (1.76%)
15. Canada: $413.1 million (1.66%)
16. Switzerland: $316.4 million (1.3%)
17. Malaysia: $295.3 million (1.19%)
18. Singapore: $292.2 million (1.17%)
19. Turkey: $276.9 million (1.11%)
20. Finland: $247.1 million (0.99%)

By value, the listed 20 countries shipped 85.4% of all paint exported in 2021.

Among the above countries, the fastest-growing paint exporters since 2017 were: Poland (up 56.1%), Austria (up 49.6%), Finland (up 45%) and Turkey (up 37.9%).

The lone major paint supplier to post a decline in its exported paint sales namely Switzerland weighed down by a -3.5% drop over the 5-year period.

Exported Synthetic Paints by Country

Below are the 20 countries that exported in 2021 the highest dollar value worth of paint made from synthetic or chemically modified natural polymers.

1. Germany: US$3.5 billion (17.1% of synthetic paint exports)
2. United States: $2.1 billion (10.5%)
3. Japan: $1.9 billion (9.5%)
4. Italy: $1.5 billion (7.5%)
5. Netherlands: $1 billion (5%)
6. France: $1 billion (5%)
7. United Kingdom: $861.7 million (4.3%)
8. Spain: $662.5 million (3.3%)
9. China: $614.5 million (3%)
10. South Korea: $584.4 million (2.9%)
11. Poland: $549 million (2.7%)
12. Belgium: $528.2 million (2.6%)
13. Sweden: $523 million (2.6%)
14. Austria: $375.9 million (1.9%)
15. Canada: $347.3 million (1.7%)
16. Switzerland: $240.7 million (1.2%)
17. Malaysia: $233.6 million (1.2%)
18. Singapore: $226.4 million (1.1%)
19. Finland: $218.1 million (1.1%)
20. Turkey: $210.1 million (1%)

Among the above countries, the fastest-growing exporters of synthetic paint since 2017 were: Finland (up 39.4%), Poland (up 37%), Austria (up 35.7%) and Japan (up 23.5%).

Those countries that posted declines in their international sales of synthetic paint were: Switzerland (down -8.5%), United States (down -3.9%), South Korea (down -1.6%) and Malaysia (down -0.7%).

By value, the listed 15 countries shipped 85.3% of all synthetic paint exports in 2021.

Exported Miscellaneous Paints by Country

Below are the 20 countries that exported in 2021 the highest dollar value worth of paint made from materials other than synthetic or chemically modified natural polymers.

1. Germany: US$159 million (20.6% of exported miscellaneous paints)
2. United States: $61.1 million (7.9%)
3. Italy: $59.8 million (7.7%)
4. Taiwan: $50.8 million (6.6%)
5. South Korea: $37.7 million (4.9%)
6. Switzerland: $37.3 million (4.8%)
7. Japan: $32.9 million (4.3%)
8. Netherlands: $27.6 million (3.6%)
9. Sweden: $26.7 million (3.5%)
10. Belgium: $25 million (3.2%)
11. Singapore: $24.6 million (3.2%)
12. United Kingdom: $24.4 million (3.1%)
13. China: $24 million (3.1%)
14. Poland: $22.6 million (2.9%)
15. Turkey: $19.4 million (2.5%)
16. Vietnam: $18.1 million (2.3%)
17. Spain: $15.6 million (2%)
18. France: $12.4 million (1.6%)
19. Austria: $8 million (1%)
20. Norway: $7.8 million (1%)

By value, the listed 15 countries shipped 89.8% of all other paint exports in 2021.

Among the above countries, the fastest-growing exporters of miscellaneous exporters since 2020 were: Vietnam (up 1,047%), Norway (up 555.4%), Austria (up 286.8%) and Poland (up 231.7%).

Posting double-digit percentage declines in their international sales of other paint were: Spain (down -58.1%), Netherlands (down -26%), Switzerland (down -23.8%), Turkey (down -19.1%), then the United States of America (down -15.7%).

Top Paint Manufacturers

According to the Coatings World’s 2021 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 Jewelry Exports by Country, Diamond Exports by Country, 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 August 25, 2022

Coatings World, Top manufacturers of paints, coatings, adhesives, and sealants: 2021 Report, Central Intelligence Agency. Accessed on August 25, 2022

Forbes Global 2000 rankings, The World’s Biggest Public Companies. Accessed on August 25, 2022

International Trade Centre, Trade Map. Accessed on August 25, 2022

Investopedia, Net Exports Definition. Accessed on August 25, 2022

Wikipedia, Paint. Accessed on August 25, 2022