Paint and printing ink industry with negative figures for 2025

The results of the German paint industry in 2025 were negatively impacted by the overall economic weakness. This was announced by the Association of the German Paint and Printing Ink Industry (VdL) at its annual business press conference.

The German coatings and printing ink industry can only report negative figures almost across the board for 2025. In line with the trend in the (chemical) industry, the sector had to cope with a 2.8% decline in sales volumes to 1.4 million tons. Compared to the previous year, turnover fell by just under 1.2% to 5.8 billion euros, reported VdL President Dr. Harald Borgholte at the annual press conference of the Association of the German Paint and Printing Ink Industry (VdL). The overall economic weakness continues to weigh heavily on the coatings and printing ink industry, and ink manufacturers expect the market situation to remain tense in 2026: the association expects business figures to remain poor and forecasts a 2% decline in sales volumes for the market as a whole.

The diverse industrial coatings sector is still heavily impacted by the weakness of the manufacturing industry. The most important customer industry in the industrial coatings sector in 2025 was automotive series production with a turnover of 608 million euros. This was followed by the automotive refinish coatings sector with 508 million euros and the metal products sector with 385 million euros. Domestic demand here shrank by 1.2% in 2025. This is due to declines in the furniture and wood sector (-3.5%), in general industry (-2%) and in automotive refinish coatings (-5%). Borgholte was able to report a small increase of 1.5% in automotive OEM coatings. Corrosion protection coatings remain the outlier (3 %). However, this now solid growth is largely due to government infrastructure projects in the areas of energy, transport and road construction. For 2026, the VdL expects a black zero in this important area, one of the few rays of hope.

Powder coatings account for around 12% of total sales of industrial coatings in Germany. In the last four years, the declines here have been greater than for wet coatings. Around half of powder coatings applications in 2025 were accounted for by the automotive supplier and transportation sector and construction. While demand for wet coatings only declined by around 1% in 2025, demand for powder coatings fell by around 5%.

The quantities of architectural paints and plasters sold fell significantly by 3.5% in 2025. Reasons for the negative trend include the persistently weak market in residential construction and low construction investment. The do-it-yourself (DIY) sector recorded a 2% decline in volumes in 2025, while the professional sector even fell by 4%. In view of the persistently difficult situation in the construction industry, a similarly negative picture is emerging for 2026. The VdL is forecasting a further 3% reduction in volumes sold. A recovery in demand for architectural coatings can therefore only be expected from 2027 - if the important "construction booster" then has the hoped-for positive effects.

In 2025, 168,000 tons of printing inks worth 702 million euros were sold on the German market. This represents a significant decline in sales volumes of around 5%. These declines were primarily recorded in publication printing, while packaging printing grew slightly. The continued decline in publication printing is also expected to cause an overall decline in sales volumes of 3% in 2026.

International trade reported slight growth: goods worth 3.7 billion euros were exported in 2025, around 1% more than in the previous year. Sales from imports rose significantly: an increase of 3.5%. Goods worth a total of 1.3 billion euros were imported. For 2026, the VdL expects moderate growth in exports, boosted by a slightly positive economy abroad. Imports are also expected to increase slightly.

"The German economy has been stagnating for six years and is at the same level as in 2019," said VdL President Borgholte, analyzing the sobering figures. "And as far-reaching structural reforms have so far failed to materialize, growth prospects remain weak." Only the day before, he had attended the meeting on the Antwerp Declaration, and the message for a more industry-friendly policy had indeed reached the upper levels of the EU. However, decisive steps in economic policy are now expected, including at national level. The construction booster is therefore an important and necessary signal for the German construction industry and therefore also for the paint industry as a supplier. Above all, however, it is now important to combat the paralyzing and stifling bureaucracy at all levels. But by 2025, the EU will have issued more regulations than ever before. "We are calling for more courage and determination when it comes to cutting red tape," said Borgholte, adding that this is the only way to unleash the economy.

VdL Managing Director Dr. Martin Kanert also reported on the first positive decisions. The importance of the chemical industry for the economy as a whole has been recognized in Europe. With the "Omnibus" packages, initial successes have been achieved, particularly in chemicals legislation. "But the reduction in bureaucracy often gets lost in detailed discussions at working level: there is often only 'less more' instead of real relief." And, above all, legislation on the circular economy (PPWR and ESPR) threatens further burdens. "A start has been made, but there is still a lot of work ahead of us." (OM-2/26)