SunSirs: China's Total Paint Production Reaches 34.602 Million Tonnes in 2025

According to the 2025 Economic Operation Briefing for China's Coatings Industry released by the China National Coatings Industry Association, the sector recorded a total production volume of 34.602 million tonnes in 2025, down 7.1% year-on-year. Main business revenue stood at CNY388.15 billion, a 3.9% year-on-year decline. with total profits reaching RMB 29.25 billion, an 11.5% year-on-year increase. The average price stood at RMB 11,200 per tonne, a 3.15% year-on-year decrease.

Regarding exports, the coatings industry shipped 407,700 tonnes in 2025, a 21.99% year-on-year increase, with total export value reaching US$1.215 billion, a 14.28% year-on-year increase.

Titanium dioxide exports totalled 1.8169 million tonnes in 2025, down 4.36% year-on-year, with a total export value of US$3.579 billion, down 14.33% year-on-year. Of this, chlorination-processed titanium dioxide exports reached 366,500 tonnes, a year-on-year increase of 6.03%, accounting for 50.42% of total production. The export value amounted to US$763 million, a year-on-year decrease of 6.60%. Sulphate-process titanium dioxide exports totalled 1.4505 million tonnes, down 6.67% year-on-year, with a total export value of US$2.815 billion, down 16.21% year-on-year, indicating a gradual recovery in export conditions.

In 2025, iron oxide pigment exports reached 309,300 tonnes, down 8.77% year-on-year, with a total export value of US$287 million, down 11.52% year-on-year. The export situation remained sluggish.

Regarding imports, in 2025, the coatings industry imported a total of 150,900 tonnes, down 8.01% year-on-year, with a total import value of US$2.01 billion, up 11.12% year-on-year.

Titanium dioxide imports totalled 74,500 tonnes in 2025, down 18.92% year-on-year, with a total import value of US$242 million, down 21.23% year-on-year. Of this, chlorination-process titanium dioxide imports amounted to 44,400 tonnes, down 26.67% year-on-year, with a total import value of US$134 million, down 29.86% year-on-year; sulfate-process titanium dioxide imports reached 30,200 tonnes, down 3.99% year-on-year, with a total import value of US$108 million, down 6.98% year-on-year.

In 2025, iron oxide pigment imports amounted to 191,700 tonnes, down 3.38% year-on-year, with a total import value of US$76 million, down 6.38% year-on-year.

What impact will the Middle East turmoil have on the coatings industry? The briefing notes that on 28 February 2026, the US-Israel-Iran conflict erupted, rapidly spreading to other Middle Eastern nations and posing severe threats to global markets and regional security. This geopolitical conflict primarily impacts the coatings industry supply chain in sectors such as energy, methanol, and sulphur.

Approximately 23% of global liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), 20% of liquefied natural gas (LNG), and one-third of crude oil supplies transit through the Strait of Hormuz. The Middle East turmoil will exert short-term direct impacts on international energy supply and downstream industries such as olefins and aromatics, driving price increases and substantially elevating costs across the coatings and pigments supply chains.

Over 60% of China's methanol imports originate from Iran, while 32% of global methanol trade transits through the Strait of Hormuz. Supply disruptions will trigger sharp fluctuations in global methanol prices. Downstream sectors including olefins and acrylic acid will experience rapid price increases, benefiting China's coal chemical industry while placing short-term pressure on coatings supply chains and costs.

China is a major importer of sulphur, with the Middle East as its primary source. Shipping disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz will directly elevate domestic sulphur prices, further fuelling the already surging sulphuric acid industry. This will also drive up costs for industries heavily reliant on sulphuric acid as a key raw material, such as titanium dioxide and iron oxide-based pigments, with short-term market prices trending upwards.

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