LONDON - Information Research (IRL) has published a report for the coatings resins sector that examines the market for all of the major types of emulsions and coating resins, including those for water-based, powder and radiation-cured coatings.

Efficiency within the coatings industry has already addressed the challenges of the Solvent Emissions Directive and exhausted most of the growth opportunities attributable to technology substitution within the decorative sector to such an extent that most expect future growth in Western Europe to be in line with GDP (typically 1-2% per annum), rather than being affected by positive market developments. The emulsion sector has witnessed a few changes with formulation bases; styrene acrylics being flexible and cheap have been particularly successful in Germany and Italy, while PVA emulsions have been making gains in other parts of Southern Europe as they are considered to offer good water resistance. Pure acrylics represent an opportunity to target the premium market, but since the decorative market functions on volume rather than price, this may be a route few are prepared to take.