LONDON – Information Research (IRL) has announced the publication of a report entirely dedicated to the Central American and Caribbean paint markets. The report, “A Profile of the Central American and Caribbean Paint Industry,” provides a unique insight into the factors driving the markets in these countries and islands, of which 16 are covered in total.

The Central American paint and coatings market has been estimated at 1.38 million tonnes in 2008, of which Mexico accounts for about 1.1 million and the other smaller countries about 280,000 tonnes.

The Caribbean paint and coatings market has been estimated at almost 421,000 tonnes in 2008. The two largest markets are Cuba and the Dominican Republic, with Puerto Rico not far behind.

Per capita paint consumption throughout the whole region is 9.5 kg/head, which is very close to that seen in Mexico alone. However, it also reflects significant differences in per capita paint consumption, from Puerto Rico at the top end to Guatemala and Nicaragua at the other. Overall growth in the Central American and Caribbean paint market is placed at 3.1 percent per annum for the next five years.

The absence of high degrees of industrialization means that decorative coatings often account for up to 75 percent of demand in some countries, while the absence of environmental legislation means that paint companies are self regulating or able to seize the initiative and sell paints that are kinder to the environment. Poor affordability and absence of investment inhibit paint consumption in some economies. For locations that are ravaged by tropical storms and hurricanes, which leave thousands of people homeless, the application of paint to even a basic home can hardly be seen as a top priority.

Many of these markets have the potential for modernization or at least the introduction of new technology; however, the levels of associated investment needed and affordability can potentially restrict such developments, particularly when traditional methods or formulations offer a convenient fallback for some. Healthy levels of investment in some countries continue to boost demand in areas such as infrastructure, business and tourism. On the other hand, some of the poorer economies will continue to struggle, especially during the global financial crisis.

Some companies have pursued the option of improving product offerings by having alliances with top multinational paint makers, and this could be one way forward that will help to change the coatings landscape in this region in the future.

For additional information, visit www.informationresearch.co.uk.