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Europe’s Top 25 coatings manufacturers by country
Europe’s coatings industry continues to be shaped by a small number of countries. The recently published 2026 Top 25 ranking of Europe’s largest coatings manufacturers shows that Germany, the Netherlands, and the Nordic countries remain the industry’s key hubs.
Measured by the number of companies represented, Germany leads by a considerable margin. A total of ten of Europe’s 25 largest coatings manufacturers are headquartered in Germany. These include BASF Coatings, DAW, Beckers Group, Brillux, Mankiewicz, Meffert, Mipa, Sto, Remmers, and Frei Lacke. This means that 40% of all listed companies are based in Germany. Together, the German manufacturers generate coatings and paint sales of around EUR 7.87 billion. BASF Coatings makes the largest contribution, with EUR 3.7 billion in sales. However, the year proved challenging for many German companies. Of the ten German manufacturers, only Mipa, Mankiewicz, and Remmers were able to increase their sales, while several larger companies reported declines.
The Netherlands plays a special role. Although only two companies – Akzo Nobel and Stahl – are represented, together they generate coatings sales of around EUR 10.88 billion. Market leader Akzo Nobel alone achieved sales of more than EUR 10 billion, making it by far the largest company in the ranking. In terms of revenue, the Netherlands therefore ranks well ahead of all other countries. The Nordic countries also maintain their strong position. Norway is represented by Jotun, which ranks third with sales of EUR 3.12 billion. Denmark has two companies in the ranking, Hempel and Flügger, which together generate around EUR 2.47 billion in sales. Finland is represented by Teknos.
Southern Europe shows varying developments. Portugal has the region’s largest representative in CIN. The company also recorded the strongest growth within the top ten. Italy is represented by IVM Chemicals, while Spain is represented by the Briolf Group. France has only one company in the ranking, Mäder. Austria has two representatives, Tiger Coatings and Adler, both of which reported positive sales development. Switzerland is represented by the Dold Group, Poland by Sniezka, and Turkey by Dyo Boya Yasar Holding.
A comparison with the previous year shows that the geographic structure of the European coatings industry has remained largely unchanged. The same 25 companies continue to appear in the ranking, with major shifts occurring mainly within the ranking itself. However, the relative national weights have changed slightly. The Netherlands has maintained its position as the country with the highest sales, and Akzo Nobel and Stahl now account for around 40.5% of the total revenue generated by the Top 25. Germany remains the country with the largest number of represented manufacturers, but has lost weight within the ranking due to declining sales at BASF, DAW, Brillux, Meffert, and Sto. Portugal, Norway, and Austria are among the few countries to report rising revenues. Portugal benefited in particular from CIN’s growth, while both Tiger Coatings and Adler increased their revenues in Austria. Norway strengthened its strong position through Jotun’s growth.
The distribution of companies highlights the differing structures of Europe’s coatings industry. While Germany is primarily characterised by numerous medium-sized manufacturers, the Netherlands dominates the revenue ranking thanks to Akzo Nobel. At the same time, Nordic countries with companies such as Jotun and Hempel demonstrate that comparatively smaller economies can also produce major players in the international coatings industry.
Click here to view the Top 25 ranking.
