Back in Bangkok: Asia Pacific Coatings Show returns to Thailand for the first time in four years

The largest coatings event in the Asia Pacific region, Asia Pacific Coatings Show will take place in Bangkok, Thailand, this September 6-8.

Returning to Thailand after a four-year break following the COVID pandemic, Asia Pacific Coatings Show will provide the perfect gateway back into this dynamic and growing market for companies in the coatings industry that are either looking to reconnect with their existing contacts or forge new business relationships.

Supported by the Thai Paint Manufacturers’ Association (TPMA), the event will showcase the entire spectrum of the coatings industry, from raw material suppliers through to plant machinery manufacturers. Leading companies from all around the world, such as allnex, Buhler, Inoue-Nissei Engineering, KH Chemimcals, Kusumoto Chemicals, Roha Dyechem, Tosoh Asia and Willy A. Bachofen have already secured a place at the show.

Geographically, Asia continues to be both the largest coatings market in the world, accounting for around 46%, and the fastest growing market. As the second largest economy in the ASEAN region, Thailand is a key market for the coatings industry with companies such as TOA Paint, Berger Paint, AkzoNobel, Covestro, Henkel and Bayer Thai having a huge presence in the country. The IMF predicts Thailand’s GDP rate will grow to 3.4% in 2023, showing a robust economy that compares favourably to the predicted GPD rates of, for example, the US (1.6%), Germany (-0.1%) or the UK (-0.3%).

Same same, but different

Thailand’s coatings industry remains strong and on an upward trajectory post-pandemic, with an emphasis remaining on automotive and decorative coatings. The landscape, however, is changing and growing in terms of the country’s focus on sustainability and new technologies to deliver a greener future.

The Thai Government announced its intention to reach carbon neutrality by 2050 and to achieve net-zero GHG emissions by 2065 at the recent COP26 Climate Summit. The pathway to this includes Thailand reducing its GHG emissions by 20-25% by 2030 and increasing its share of renewable energy to about 30% of total energy consumption by 2037.

To help achieve this, the country is looking for foreign investment to dramatically increase electric vehicle (EV) production as part of the plan, resulting in a new focus for the automotive coatings industry in the country. The TPMA also predicts that in the Thai paint industry there will be a move towards carbon neutrality; the further development of climate-friendly technologies; decarbonisation in the production process through technologies; the use of renewable energy and raw materials; reduction of energy usage during application; low-emission paint products; and ultimately, efforts to minimise carbon footprint.

Knowledge sharing and getting involved

Advances in sustainability and how to achieve them will be just one of the varied topics that will be discussed at the Business Presentations Hub that will run alongside the show. The presentations will be free for visitors to attend and will act as a forum for key knowledge sharing, allowing attendees to discuss the prominent topics and trends in the coatings industry with industry experts.

For more information on the Asia Pacific Coatings Show, visit: www.asiapacificcoatingsshow.com