Resins
Market Report
Although 2010 continued to present difficulties for suppliers to the coatings industry,
there were some indications of recovery. Resins suppliers interviewed by Coatings World
reported some positive news.
by Kerry Pianoforte, Associate Editor
Has the resins market showed any signs of recovery from the economic downturn?
• Phil McDivitt, general manager, Celanese Emulsion Polymers:
According to our customers in North America, the architectural
coatings industry is up approximately two percent. Recovery remains slow due to the lack of growth in the new construction
market. In Europe, particularly in Germany, the recession wasn’t
quite as deep and recovery for end-use domestic goods has been
strong. In China, paints and coatings has rebounded well based
on domestic demand while other end-uses such as adhesives,
which are driven partially by exports, has not recovered as well.
The growth rates in China and India are going to outpace the
more mature markets in Europe and North America. To meet
this growing demand, Celanese is expanding its capacity at our
Nanjing, China facility. This investment will double our vinyl acetate/ethylene capacity and is due to come online in the middle
of this year. However, we are not overlooking the mature European or North American markets as they are growing in the low
emission paint end use.
• Leigh Ann Gibbons, market specialist, Reichhold, Inc.: 2010
was a difficult year for all members of the coatings industry, but
the trials of 2010 were not without a glimmer of hope for eco-
nomic recovery. As most conventional coatings markets become
more difficult to be competitive in, more and more customers are
looking to differentiate themselves with new products, some even
outside their current market offering. At Reichhold, we have seen
an increase in the number of new research and development proj-
ects, especially those featuring novel technologies such as our
Beckosol AQ alkyd latexes. As we end the first quarter of 2011,
the months to follow will no doubt be trying as raw material
prices continue to escalate. We must stay the course and focus
on working smarter and more efficiently to provide value added
products and services.
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