LONDON - Germany is the top exporter of coatings worldwide, with 18% of the total global export market, a recently issued study concludes. The United States ranks second in coatings exports, with a 15% share, according to "The World Market for Paint 2003" from Information Research Ltd. of the U.K.

The first-edition volume offers "an extensive and unique insight into international Paint trade" and is based on statistical analysis of international trade statistics in the paint and coatings sector, the publisher says.

Coatings exports are led by manufacturers whose national markets are "fairly mature," the study says. The top 10 exporters account for 75% of the world paint trade. Following Germany and the United States, the major exporters are Italy and Japan, with 7%; the U.K. and France, at 6%; Belgium and The Netherlands, 5%; and Sweden and Singapore, 3%. Various other countries account for 25% of total exports.

The study says the top coatings importers are Canada, China, the United States, France, and the U.K. The imports profile is described as being more fragmented, with the top 25 importers accounting for 75% of imports.

More information is available from the Information Research Ltd. website, located at www.informationresearch.co.uk, phone +44 (0) 20 8832 7830.