Total combined exports of different types of paint from all countries totaled US$25.4 billion in 2023.

That dollar amount reflects an average 13.6% increase for global paint shippers from $22.3 billion 5 years earlier in 2019.

Year over year, overall international sales of exported paints declined via a -1.7% slowdown compared to $25.8 billion during 2022.

In 2023, the value of exported paint made from synthetic or chemically modified natural polymers amounted to $24.5 billion or 96.7% of the global total. Just 3.3% of the global total ($827.1 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, Italy, Japan and the Netherlands. Collectively, that cohort of suppliers approached half (46.5%) of exported paints sold during 2023.

Among continents, suppliers in European countries sold the highest dollar worth of exported paint during 2023 with shipments totaling $15.4 billion or roughly three-fifths (60.8%) of the overall total. In second place were paint exporters located in Asia at 20.9% while another 14.1% of worldwide paint shipments originated from North America.

Smaller percentages came from sellers in Latin America (2.1%) excluding Mexico but including the Caribbean, Africa (1.6%) then 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, the 20 countries below exported the highest dollar value worth of paint during 2023.

1. Germany: US$3.9 billion (15.5% of total paint exports)
2. United States: $2.9 billion (11.5%)
3. Italy: $1.9 billion (7.3%)
4. Japan: $1.6 billion (6.4%)
5. Netherlands: $1.5 billion (5.8%)
6. Belgium: $1.4 billion (5.4%)
7. France: $1.2 billion (4.6%)
8. United Kingdom: $1.1 billion (4.2%)
9. Spain: $898.2 million (3.5%)
10. mainland China: $897.8 million (3.5%)
11. Poland: $751.1 million (3%)
12. South Korea: $700.1 million (2.8%)
13. Sweden: $524.7 million (2.1%)
14. Canada: $468.9 million (1.8%)
15. Türkiye: $436.7 million (1.7%)
16. Austria: $404.9 million (1.6%)
17. Malaysia: $316.9 million (1.2%)
18. Switzerland: $309.4 million (1.2%)
19. Singapore: $272.5 million (1.1%)
20. Thailand: $220.1 million (0.9%)

By value, the listed 20 countries shipped 85.2% of all paint exported in 2023.

Among the above countries, the fastest-growing paint exporters since 2019 were: Türkiye (up 105%), Belgium (up 44.5%), mainland China (up 40.4%) and Netherlands (up 37.8%).

Major suppliers that posted declines in their exported paint sales were: Thailand (down 12.1% from 2022), Japan (down -12.4%), Sweden (down -1.5%) and Singapore (down -0.6%).

Exported Synthetic Paints by Country

Below are the 20 countries that exported in 2023 the highest dollar value worth of paint made from synthetic or chemically modified natural polymers.

1. Germany: US$3.8 billion (15.5% of synthetic paint exports)
2. United States: $2.8 billion (11.6%)
3. Italy: $1.8 billion (7.3%)
4. Japan: $1.6 billion (6.5%)
5. Netherlands: $1.4 billion (5.7%)
6. Belgium: $1.3 billion (5.5%)
7. France: $1.1 billion (4.7%)
8. United Kingdom: $1 billion (4.3%)
9. Spain: $883.9 million (3.6%)
10. mainland China: $867.5 million (3.5%)
11. Poland: $725.9 million (3%)
12. South Korea: $673.1 million (2.7%)
13. Sweden: $501.2 million (2%)
14. Canada: $465.5 million (1.9%)
15. Türkiye: $414.8 million (1.7%)
16. Austria: $391.7 million (1.6%)
17. Malaysia: $312.6 million (1.3%)
18. Switzerland: $272.9 million (1.1%)
19. Singapore: $257 million (1%)
20. Thailand: $216.3 million (0.9%)

By value, the listed countries shipped 85.3% of all synthetic paint exported in 2023.

Among the above countries, the fastest-growing exporters of synthetic paint since 2019 were: Türkiye (up 117.3%), Belgium (up 44%), mainland China (up 41.3%) and Netherlands (up 34.7%).

Only one major supplier posted a decline in its international sales of synthetic paint, namely Sweden (down -2% from 2022).

Exported Miscellaneous Paints by Country

Below are the 20 countries that exported in 2023 the highest dollar value worth of paint made from materials other than synthetic or chemically modified natural polymers.

1. Germany: US$135.7 million (16.4% of exported miscellaneous paints)
2. United States: $74.8 million (9%)
3. Netherlands: $74 million (8.9%)
4. Italy: $58.6 million (7.1%)
5. Switzerland: $36.5 million (4.4%)
6. Japan: $35.7 million (4.3%)
7. Taiwan: $35.4 million (4.3%)
8. Vietnam: $33 million (4%)
9. mainland China: $30.3 million (3.7%)
10. United Kingdom: $28.3 million (3.4%)
11. Belgium: $28.1 million (3.4%)
12. South Korea: $26.9 million (3.3%)
13. Poland: $25.2 million (3%)
14. Sweden: $23.5 million (2.8%)
15. Türkiye: $21.9 million (2.6%)
16. Singapore: $15.5 million (1.9%)
17. France: $14.7 million (1.8%)
18. Spain: $14.2 million (1.7%)
19. Austria: $13.2 million (1.6%)
20. Denmark: $13 million (1.6%)

By value, the listed countries shipped 89.3% of all other paint exported in 2023.

Among the above countries, the fastest-growing other paint exporters since 2019 were: Vietnam (up 1,621%), Austria (up 671.6%), Denmark (up 320.5%) and the Netherlands (up 143.6%).

Major suppliers that posted declines in their international sales of other paint were led by: Spain (down -38.6% from 2022), Singapore (down -31.3%), South Korea (down -27.5%) and Taiwan (down -22.9%).

Top Paint Manufacturers

According to the Coatings World’s 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 October 20, 2024

Coatings World, Top manufacturers of paints, coatings, adhesives, and sealants: 2023 Report, Central Intelligence Agency. Accessed on October 20, 2024

Forbes Global 2000 rankings, The World’s Biggest Public Companies. Accessed on October 20, 2024

International Trade Centre, Trade Map. Accessed on October 20, 2024

Investopedia, Net Exports Definition. Accessed on October 20, 2024

Wikipedia, Paint. Accessed on October 20, 2024