08.16.05
The French paint market—estimated at 854,000 tons in 2004—could grow to 916,000 tons in 2009, if average annual growth of 1.4% per annum can be achieved, according to a new market study from Informational Research (IRL). This growth belies the fact that the industrial sector will decline slightly as a result of the continued contraction of the large general industrial coatings sector and the smaller automotive refinishes market.
One considerable threat to the industrial sector, which accounts for 34% of all demand in France, is the potential relocation of automotive manufacturing to Eastern Europe, as the French automotive and automotive component sectors are two important mainstays of the French coatings market, according to IRL. Promising areas in the industrial coatings market include ACE, coil coatings and plastic finishing. The building and DIY paint markets can potentially offset any decline in the industrial sector with growth of about two to three percent per year, according to IRL. Devolution of spending decisions to local authorities on the part of the French government has boosted the construction sector, while tax breaks have aided it further.
In addition, France’s 35-hour work week has changed the market. While it has capped the professional paint sector to some extent, it has been good news for the DIY sector. With more leisure time, expenditure on DIY is on the rise.
“France has many strengths as far as the paint industry is concerned, including strong automotive, agricultural and aerospace sectors, all of which represent good potential markets,” said Terry Knowles, a business manager with IRL. “Furthermore, in common with many of the other paint markets in Western Europe, there is some additional scope in technology substitution as companies look towards greater powder coatings use within the industrial sector.”
For more information on the report, contact IRL’s Terry Knowles at tknowles@brg.co.uk.
One considerable threat to the industrial sector, which accounts for 34% of all demand in France, is the potential relocation of automotive manufacturing to Eastern Europe, as the French automotive and automotive component sectors are two important mainstays of the French coatings market, according to IRL. Promising areas in the industrial coatings market include ACE, coil coatings and plastic finishing. The building and DIY paint markets can potentially offset any decline in the industrial sector with growth of about two to three percent per year, according to IRL. Devolution of spending decisions to local authorities on the part of the French government has boosted the construction sector, while tax breaks have aided it further.
In addition, France’s 35-hour work week has changed the market. While it has capped the professional paint sector to some extent, it has been good news for the DIY sector. With more leisure time, expenditure on DIY is on the rise.
“France has many strengths as far as the paint industry is concerned, including strong automotive, agricultural and aerospace sectors, all of which represent good potential markets,” said Terry Knowles, a business manager with IRL. “Furthermore, in common with many of the other paint markets in Western Europe, there is some additional scope in technology substitution as companies look towards greater powder coatings use within the industrial sector.”
For more information on the report, contact IRL’s Terry Knowles at tknowles@brg.co.uk.