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Tinol expands its activities: “Europe is a key part of our long-term growth plan.“
Lebanese paint producer Tinol is expanding its activities into Europe, with Cyprus serving as a strategic gateway for its regional growth. In this interview, Chairman Chaker F. Saab explains how the company is leveraging the island’s location to build a strong foundation for European expansion. He also shares insights into the company’s future plans across the Mediterranean. By Damir Gagro.
What motivated Tinol to establish a foothold in Cyprus, and how does this align with your overall strategy for European market expansion?
Chaker F. Saab: Cyprus is a natural gateway between our core markets in the Middle East and Africa and our ambitions in Europe. Its location within the EU, stable regulations, and strong cultural and business ties to the Mediterranean make it an ideal base for regional growth. Our presence in Cyprus helps us serve both Southern Europe and nearby Mediterranean markets efficiently, with a lean and flexible setup. Also, the Mediterranean climate is very similar to Lebanon’s, so our paints—designed for durability, corrosion protection, UV resistance, and weathering—perform very well in these conditions.
You’ve already appointed an export manager and set up a satellite office in Larnaca. What have been the first concrete steps on the ground, and how has the market responded so far?
Saab: We appointed Dimitris Dimitriou as our Export Manager in Cyprus, benefiting from his strong experience in local and regional markets. Our Larnaca office has been focused on building relationships with key distributors, DIY retailers, and contractors, while ensuring our operations meet EU standards. We’ve already partnered with a local distributor in Nicosia and established a quick response setup that allows us to adapt our product range based on feedback. So far, the reaction has been very positive, and the specialty products that we have introduced have shown very good performance and are satisfying the demands of contractors and end customers. There’s strong interest in our certified eco-friendly products, as well as in our wide range of coatings—from decorative and fire-resistant paints to industrial, flooring, heavy-duty, anti-carbonation, and specialty products. Our private label offering has also attracted attention, especially thanks to our experience with French and British partners that our using our products.
What makes the Cypriot and broader Mediterranean market a good fit for your product portfolio?
Saab: The Mediterranean region faces strong sun, high heat, intermittent rain and coastal humidity—conditions that require paints with excellent durability, corrosion protection, weather resistance, and UV protection. Since Lebanon has a very similar climate, our products are already well suited to these challenges. In addition, our paints are aligned with local building styles and the growing demand for sustainable products. Tinol was the first in the region to earn both “UL Green Guard Gold” and “SCAQMD” certifications for low VOC content and emissions. This gives us an edge in markets that value healthier and more environmentally friendly solutions. We’re also flexible in customising products to meet specific local needs.
What are the next steps? Will you establish a formal company in Cyprus? If so, by when?
Saab: We are considering setting up a formal company in Cyprus as a natural next step within the coming few months. For now, we’re keeping our operations lean, working through our distributor and export manager while we build up market volume. Creating a local entity would help us manage logistics, invoicing, and warehousing more effectively. We’re aiming to move forward with this based on how the market continues to grow.
Malta is the next step in your regional strategy. Could you elaborate on the role Cyprus and Malta play as gateways to the wider Mediterranean or European coatings markets?
Saab: Both Cyprus and Malta are ideal starting points for entering the broader Mediterranean and European markets. They provide EU access, straightforward regulations, and are close to key areas of demand. Cyprus helps us reach Eastern and Southern Europe efficiently, while Malta offers a path to North Africa and Central Europe. Together, they support a smart distribution model that lets us grow without creating heavy operational overhead. We have already made contact with distributors and contractors who have shown interest in our company and offerings.
How do you envision the importance of the European market for Tinol? Do you have long-term goals for how much of your global business should be generated from this region?
Saab: Europe is a key part of our long-term growth plan. Today, around 90 % of our business comes from the Middle East and Africa. Over the next five to seven years, we expect to increase sales in the Middle East and Africa and aim for the European market to contribute about 25 % of our global sales. This will come from distribution, direct selling, partnerships and private label agreements using tailored solutions for professionals and developers. Cyprus will play a central role as our launchpad for this expansion.
