Indian paint industry and key stakeholders congregated in Mumbai during the three days Paint India event. Coatings World travelled to Mumbai to interact with the exhibitors and visitors to the show to get the pulse of industry.

Paint India 2026

Nearly $10 billion worth of Indian paint & coating industry is coming out of a lean consumption period. Demand during the last two years has been less than the anticipated high single digit growth, which the industry registered between 2020-2023. However, most of the stakeholders are optimistic of steady demand revival in the current years. 

With strong emphasis on sustainable, innovative, and functional coatings, Paint India 2026 event in Mumbai witnessed a number of companies showcasing their innovation and products for the Indian paint & coating industry. Spread over four halls in NESCO exhibition grounds, the event witnessed heavy visitor turnout over three days ( 19^th Feb-21^st Feb).

Organizers claimed that over 1000 exhibitors, more than 12,000 visitors and delegates, and participants from more than 50 countries attended the show.

The event highlighted technical and market advancements in paints & coatings, adhesives & sealants, printing inks, packaging solutions and construction chemicals.

Huge potential

Coating producers are optimistic about the long term potential of the Indian coating industry. Current low per capita consumption in both the major segments- architectural and automotive- is considered as an opportunity by the leading coating producers.

A visiting executive from Birla Opus told CW on the condition of anonymity, “ Paint & coating consumption in India is expected to grow at healthy rates in the foreseeable future as  there are huge opportunities in the vast rural areas in the architectural segment. Current low per capita ownership of automobiles is expected to improve in the medium term, which will be a catalyst for the growth of automotive coating consumption.”

Praful Patel, Vice President of Indian Small Scale Paint Association and CEO of  Praful Paints & Chemicals Products told CW, “ Among all the regional peers, Indian coating industry has the highest potential to grow in the medium and short term. Small scale paint producers will play a huge role in the development of the industry in coming years. The perception that the small scale coating producers offer low quality products is slowly ebbing away as a number of small scale producer are offering very high quality products, which will be beneficial for the future growth of this segment of market.”

Focus on raw materials

“Engineered nanoparticle based inorganic functional additives have been nothing short of revolution in the coating industry. Unlike conventional fillers, these nanoscale particles bring balance, brilliance, and most importantly strength to every formulation. These additives help in strengthening films, extending durability, optimizing costs, and refining flow,” Nirakar Desai, a key executive at 20 Microns told CW in an interaction.

20 Microns Limited is among India’s leading producers of ultra-fine industrial minerals, functional additives, and specialty chemicals The company is a leading producer of white minerals offering innovative products in the field of functional fillers, extenders with an industry experience of over three and a half decade.

Deepak Walhekar, President of International Business at Vimal Intertrade Pvt. Ltd., “We are a distributor of specialty chemicals in India, acting as the bridge between global chemical innovation and local manufacturing needs. We offer critical components for sustainable coatings, such as halogen-free flame retardants and APEO-free surfactants, water-borne resins, curing agents & specialty additives – that allow paint companies to transition away from high-solvent formulations to meet environmental regulations.”            

Environment friendly products- Gaining ground

“We are having incredible experience at the event. We (Our team) at had a fantastic time connecting with industry leaders, discussing the future of paints and coatings, and showcasing our latest innovative solutions. Indian paint industry has at an evolution stage. Most of the paint producers are putting huge emphasis on the quality of raw materials,” Virendar Singh told CW at their booth.

Established in 1942,HindPrakash Group is a  chemical manufacturing company in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. The company offers a wide range of chemical products, including industrial adhesives (Hindbond and Hindsol), dyestuffs, dye intermediates, food colors, PVC resin, and specialty chemicals.

One of the key drawbacks of using conventional paints is that they may release a high concentration of petroleum-based solvents or volatile organic compounds (VOCs) which is a health hazard and contributes to indoor air pollution.

Environment friendly coating products and low-VOC alternatives that promote better indoor air quality and sustainability are gaining immense popularity in the Indian coating industry. These paints are increasingly popular for their health benefits and positive environmental impact. Almost all the major Indian coating producers have started offering green and eco-friendly options in increasing number.

Jagdeep Singh, Executive Secretary at India Paint & Coating Association ( IPCA) told CW, “ Indian paint industry is undergoing a rapid transformation. Environmental friendly and low VOC products are getting significant traction in all the sub-segments of the Industry. We have seen a sea-change in the customer’s attitude and perception towards these products during the last few years, particularly after the Covid pandemic.”

“We (Asian Paints) have been a leader in environmentally friendly practices and options. Our range (Royale Atmos and Apcolite Premium Emulsion) are among most popular and eco-friendly options in the domestic market. The low VOC in these paints mean that they have little effect on the environment and improve the indoor air quality. Our company also promotes eco-friendly packaging and manufacturing methods, which makes us the most popular coating company for these products,” an executive from production planning & control division of Asian Paints told.

Paint India Congress

A concurrent congress, which involved a number of interesting presentations by Industry stakeholders, also took place during the event. Arkema’s Loic Chailloux’s ‘Advancing sustainability with waterborne coating technologies’, Borregaard’s Otto Soidinsalo’s ‘Faster drying and longer open time of water-based coatings and novel additives’, BYK’s  ‘Additives shape the future’, Arxada’s ‘ Innovative dry-film protection for powerful performance’, and Dow Chemcial’s ‘Innovation on opacifying technologies & their role in architectural paint space’ were some of the major presentations.