27-Nov-2025

Key Points
Growing production capacity, robust raw material availability, and competitive pricing have made India's paint industry a significant player in international trade. Indian producers are exporting a wide variety of goods to markets in Asia, Africa, Europe, and the Middle East, ranging from industrial coatings to decorative paints.
This blog explores how paint export from India works, the exporters & importers list, and the updated insights it offers to traders looking for profitable international opportunities.
The following is a list of India's principal paint-producing states:
|
Rank |
State/Territory |
Number of Paint Manufacturers (Approximate) |
|
1 |
Maharashtra |
Over 550 |
|
2 |
Tamil Nadu |
Over 340 |
|
3 |
Uttar Pradesh |
Over 300 |
|
4 |
Gujarat |
Nearly 300 |
|
5 |
Haryana |
Over 200 |
|
6 |
Karnataka |
Over 200 |
|
7 |
West Bengal |
Nearly 200 |
States with a robust chemical industry base (like Gujarat and Maharashtra) and those with good port/logistics connectivity (like Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, and West Bengal) are frequently home to the paint industry.

Based on paint export data, India exported 247 shipments of industrial paint (TTM) between September 2023 and August 2024. These goods were sold by 31 Indian exporters to 35 buyers, a 98% increase over the previous 12 months.
|
Paint Export from India |
Paint Export data (Metric/Value) |
|
Export Period |
September 2023 – August 2024 (TTM) |
|
Total Shipments (TTM) |
247 Shipments |
|
Shipments in August 2024 |
13 Shipments |
|
Growth vs. Prior TTM |
98% Increase |
|
Number of Indian Exporters |
31 Exporters |
|
Number of Global Buyers |
35 Buyers |
In August 2024 alone, India exported thirteen shipments of industrial paint during this period. Most of India's industrial paint exports go to Nigeria, Bangladesh, and Russia.
The top three countries in the world for industrial paint exports are China, Malaysia, and Turkey.
Turkey leads the world in industrial paint exports with 13,777 shipments, followed by China (6,457 shipments) and Malaysia (5,629 shipments). Get the top paint exporters list, insights on wall paint export from India, paint suppliers in India, export spray paint statistics or the worldwide shipment data from our top export data supplier.
Below are the major paint exporters or paint-exporting countries:
|
Rank |
Country |
Paint export data (Billions USD) |
Share of Global Exports |
|
1 |
Germany |
$3.9 |
15.50% |
|
2 |
United States |
$2.9 |
11.50% |
|
3 |
Italy |
$1.9 |
7.30% |
|
4 |
Japan |
$1.6 |
6.40% |
|
5 |
Netherlands |
$1.5 |
5.80% |
|
6 |
Belgium |
$1.4 |
5.40% |
|
7 |
France |
$1.2 |
4.60% |
|
8 |
United Kingdom |
$1.1 |
4.20% |
|
9 |
Spain |
$0.90 |
3.50% |
|
10 |
Mainland China |
$0.90 |
3.50% |
In 2023, the global paint export market was extremely concentrated, with Germany leading the world by a wide margin, exporting paint valued at about $3.9 billion and holding more than 15% of the market.
With $2.9 billion, the United States was the second-largest exporter after Germany, demonstrating the dominance of Western countries in this industrial sector. Italy, Japan, and the Netherlands were among the other nations in the top 10, and their combined contributions demonstrated a fiercely competitive global paint and coating manufacturing and distribution market.
The base composition of paint (such as synthetic polymers, acrylic, or polyester) and the medium in which it is dissolved or dispersed (aqueous/water-based or non-aqueous/solvent-based) determine the Harmonised System (HS) code.
The HS Code system's Chapter 32 contains the primary headings for paints.
|
paint HS code |
General Description |
|
3208 |
Paints and varnishes, based on synthetic polymers in a non-aqueous medium. |
|
3209 |
Paints and varnishes, based on synthetic polymers in an aqueous medium. |
|
3210 |
Other paints and varnishes. |
|
3212 |
Prepared pigments dispersed in non-aqueous media. |
|
3213 |
Artists', students' or signboard painters' colours. |
Paints are categorised according to their basic composition and medium using the Harmonised System (HS) codes, which are mainly located under Chapter 32.
In particular, paints based on synthetic polymers in a non-aqueous (solvent-based) medium, like industrial coatings and solvent-based enamels, fall under Code 3208, whereas paints based on synthetic polymers in an aqueous (water-based) medium, like typical emulsion house paints, fall under Code 3209.
Get the trustworthy list of paint buyers and exporters, as well as information on Interior wall paint export from india, paint export data, paint sellers, export spray paint, and paint HS codes, from our data-driven platform, a leading source of exim data.
A small number of powerful, well-organised companies control the majority of the Indian paint market, which is roughly split into two segments: decorative (house painting) and industrial (automotive, marine, and powder coatings).
The top paint suppliers in India are listed in the following table, which focuses on the big, well-known, publicly traded multinational corporations:
|
Rank (By Market Share) |
Major paint suppliers in India |
Parent Company/Origin |
|
1 |
Asian Paints Ltd. |
Indian |
|
2 |
Berger Paints India Ltd. |
Indian (Originally UK) |
|
3 |
Kansai Nerolac Paints Ltd. |
Kansai Paint Co., Ltd. (Japan) |
|
4 |
Akzo Nobel India Ltd. |
AkzoNobel N.V. (Netherlands) |
|
5 |
JSW Paints |
JSW Group (Indian) |
|
6 |
Indigo Paints Ltd. |
Indian |
|
7 |
Birla Opus |
Grasim Industries (Aditya Birla Group) (Indian) |
|
8 |
Shalimar Paints Ltd. |
Indian (Oldest company) |
|
9 |
Nippon Paint India Pvt. Ltd. |
Nippon Paint Holdings (Japan) |
|
10 |
Sirca Paints India Ltd. |
Indian (Initial collaboration with Italy) |
ColorMax Industries, a leading paint and coatings manufacturer from Gujarat, wanted to expand its global footprint. Their product line included:
While the company had strong domestic operations, it struggled to find verified international buyers and lacked visibility into global paint import–export trends.
To achieve global expansion, ColorMax needed authentic buyer lists, insights on paint export from India, paint export data, paint HS code, pricing trends, and competitor intelligence.
ColorMax Industries faced major issues:
Manual research on Google, LinkedIn, and trade events consumed time but delivered poor results.
The team subscribed to ExportImportData.in, an export import data provider offering:
This allowed ColorMax to track paint demand globally and connect with active buyers.
Step 1: Product Keyword & HS Code Search
They searched using:
This helped capture all global paint shipment records.
Step 2: Country & Timeline Filters
They applied filters to target specific markets:
This revealed countries with the highest import demand.
Step 3: Retrieved Verified Buyer Information
ExportImportData.in provided:
This helped them shortlist the most active importers.
Step 4: Market & Competitor Analysis
Using the dashboard, the best export data provider, ColorMax, studied:
These insights helped them develop competitive pricing proposals.
Step 5: Targeted Outreach
Based on verified buyer records, they contacted:
This data-driven outreach improved trust and conversion dramatically.
|
Before Using ExportImportData.in |
After Using the Platform |
|
No verified buyer list |
100% verified paint buyers from 12+ countries |
|
Zero visibility on pricing |
Full pricing & demand intelligence |
|
Low response rate |
31% conversion in buyer outreach |
|
High marketing expenses |
Reduced costs with targeted leads |
|
No export orders |
Secured 3 new export clients worth $520,000 in 5 months |
ColorMax successfully entered the UAE, Vietnam, and Kenya with repeat orders and built long-term partnerships.
So, Paint export from India present a high-growth opportunity for businesses aiming to enter the global market with reliable and in-demand products. With consistent quality, cost-effective manufacturing, and strong international demand, Indian exporters enjoy a competitive edge.
ExportImportData.in proved to be a powerful trade data solution for ColorMax Industries, helping them discover real global paint buyers, understand market demand, and make informed export decisions. With real paint export data and verified contacts and paint hs code, the company reduced guesswork and built a profitable international paint export business.
For any paint manufacturer or supplier aiming to expand abroad, ExportImportData.in provides the essential tools needed for fast, data-driven global growth.
Export Import Data solutions is one of the best online import export websites in India that provides trade data services and trading business information. Currently, Export import data is the best import export data provider and market research companies in India.
The top paint exporters include Germany, the United States, Italy, Japan and the Netherlands.
Asian Paints is India's No. 1 paint company, leading the market with a large market share and a wide distribution network.
The biggest paint suppliers include Asian Paints Ltd., Berger Paints India Ltd., Kansai Nerolac Paints Ltd., and Akzo Nobel India Ltd
Nippon Paint Holdings is Asia's second-largest paint company, following a 2024 ranking that placed it behind the larger Sherwin-Williams.
The top HSN Code for paints include 3208, 3209, 3210, 3212 and 3213.