Coatings World - January 2017

Kerry Pianoforte, Editor

Overall, pigment suppliers Coatings World interviewed reported growth, although some segments of the pig- ments marketed performed better than other.

BASF has reported that it continued to see the pigments market grow in 2016. “However, each market has different needs and trends that drive this growth. Design and styling options are vital for our automotive coatings customers. Our industrial coatings customers look more at durability and weathering. Being able to respond to these different needs is key to continue to see growth in the coatings market,” said Lisa Gentile, manager, global communications and branding colors & effects at BASF.

“Overall we have seen a stronger performance
in the plastics market than in coatings for pig-
ments,” said Robert Poemer, business unit leader at
Heucotech, Ltd. “The plastics market has started to regain
volumes that were lost in some areas a couple of years ago.
Relative to coatings, the growth that we had previously seen in
the automotive (both OEM and refinish) as well as the indus-
trial segment was basically flat for 2016. It should be noted that
both areas of the automotive market have shown significant
growth over the last several years. After years of stagnation,
the decorative market seemed to pick up in 2016 particularly in
the NAFTA region. It would appear that housing starts and the
resale market are fueling the increase.”
Frank Lavieri, executive vice president and general man-
ager at Lansco Colors noted his company had a record year in

2016. “It looks like a trend toward lighter shades in coatings
reduced pigment consumption somewhat, but growth through
capturing new business more than compensated for this. Our
international business was strong because of greater market
penetration, but the U.S. may be the only market which is truly
expanding,” he opined.

The 2016 pigment market was relatively flat with growth in the first half offset in the second half as the result of global political uncertainty, according to Charles Hoover of Cathy “The organic pigments market performance is basically in line with the development of the various coatings market