After three straight years of declining sales, U.S. manufacturers of paints and coatings posted a solid gain of nearly 4% in 2003, and solid growth is expected in the near future, according to a new study.
Buoyant demand for architectural coatings, coatings for military applications and a robust export market, all of which remained strong during the recession, will be joined by a resurgence in other market segments, including OEM product finishes and special-purpose coatings. These are among the findings in a new market research report, The Outlook for the Paints and Coatings Industry, published by Business Trend Analysts Inc., a New York firm that has been tracking the industry and providing studies for 25 years.