What this market covers
Coatings for vehicle bodies and repair work, including primers, colour coats and clear finishes. Buyers are vehicle makers, collision repair shops and paint distributors.
Typical segments
- Primers
- Basecoats
- Clearcoats
- Refinish paints
Source: Eurostat
Why this market is moving now
- Extra-EU import value moved +41% from 2020 to 2025, a direct read on EU demand for sourced supply.
- Supply is concentrated: one country provided a large share of extra-EU imports in 2025.
- US employment in the core industry shifted -0% since 2020.
Key figures
Each figure names the source it came from. Open the source list below to read the quoted line.
| Figure | Value | Year | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| The EU imported €97.7 million of products under CN code 32081090 (Paints and varnishes, incl. enamels and lacquers, based on polyesters, dispersed or) from outside the EU in 2025. | 97.7 EUR million | 2025 | Eurostat |
| Extra-EU imports of CN 32081090 were up 41% in 2025 compared with 2020 (€69.3 million), calculated from Eurostat values. | +41 % change | 2025 | Eurostat |
| EU exports of CN 32081090 to countries outside the EU were worth €455.0 million in 2025. | 455.0 EUR million | 2025 | Eurostat |
| Trade between EU member states in CN 32081090 (intra-EU arrivals) came to €1.13 billion in 2025. | 1.13 EUR billion | 2025 | Eurostat |
| United Kingdom was the largest non-EU supplier of CN 32081090 to the EU in 2025, with €41.7 million, or 43% of extra-EU imports. | 41.7 EUR million | 2025 | Eurostat |
| EU exports of CN 32081090 to the United States were €23.6 million in 2025. | 23.6 EUR million | 2025 | Eurostat |
| The average value of extra-EU imports of CN 32081090 was €5.85 per kilogram in 2025, calculated from Eurostat value and weight. | 5.85 EUR per kg | 2025 | Eurostat |
| Italy was the largest EU exporter of CN 32081090 to non-EU countries in 2025, at €119.1 million. | 119.1 EUR million | 2025 | Eurostat |
| The EU had 3,131 enterprises in NACE class C2030 (Manufacture of paints, varnishes and similar coatings, printing ink and mastics) in 2023. | 3,131 enterprises | 2023 | Eurostat |
| EU enterprises in NACE class C2030 had net turnover of €49.00 billion in 2023. | 49.00 EUR billion | 2023 | Eurostat |
| NACE class C2030 employed 140,000 people across the EU in 2023. | 140,000 persons employed | 2023 | Eurostat |
| The US had 1,817 private establishments in NAICS 325510 (Paint and coating manufacturing) in 2025. | 1,817 establishments | 2025 | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics |
| NAICS 325510 employed an average of 41,149 people in US private industry in 2025. | 41,149 jobs | 2025 | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics |
| US employment in NAICS 325510 changed by -0% between 2020 (41,344 jobs) and 2025, calculated from BLS figures. | -0 % change | 2025 | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics |
| Average annual pay in US NAICS 325510 was $91,102 in 2025. | 91,102 USD per year | 2025 | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics |
Sources and method
The figures on this page come from the public sources listed below. Read how we work.
- Eurostat: EU trade since 1988 by HS2-4-6 and CN8 (DS-045409) (2026-11-04)
Quoted lines
- Figure 1
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 32081090, partner EXT_EU27_2020, flow import, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 97715190
- Figure 2
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 32081090, flow import, 2020 VALUE_IN_EUROS 69347039; 2025 VALUE_IN_EUROS 97715190
- Figure 3
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 32081090, partner EXT_EU27_2020, flow export, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 454992404
- Figure 4
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 32081090, partner INT_EU27_2020, flow import, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 1132540319
- Figure 5
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 32081090, partner GB, flow import, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 41710563
- Figure 6
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 32081090, partner US, flow export, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 23578002
- Figure 7
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 32081090, flow import, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 97715190, QUANTITY_IN_100KG 166971
- Figure 1
- Eurostat: EU trade since 1988 by HS2-4-6 and CN8 (DS-045409) (2026-11-04)
Quoted lines
- Figure 8
DS-045409, reporter IT, product 32081090, partner EXT_EU27_2020, flow export, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 119107434
- Figure 8
- Eurostat: Enterprises by detailed NACE Rev. 2 activity and special aggregates (sbs_ovw_act) (2026-11-04)
Quoted lines
- Figure 9
sbs_ovw_act, geo EU27_2020, nace_r2 C2030, indic_sbs ENT_NR, 2023, 3131
- Figure 10
sbs_ovw_act, geo EU27_2020, nace_r2 C2030, indic_sbs NETTUR_MEUR, 2023, 48996
- Figure 11
sbs_ovw_act, geo EU27_2020, nace_r2 C2030, indic_sbs EMP_NR, 2023, 140000
- Figure 9
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: QCEW annual averages, NAICS 325510, 2025 (2026-11-04)
Quoted lines
- Figure 12
QCEW 2025 annual, US000, private, NAICS 325510, annual_avg_estabs 1817
- Figure 13
QCEW 2025 annual, US000, private, NAICS 325510, annual_avg_emplvl 41149
- Figure 14
QCEW 2020 annual_avg_emplvl 41344; 2025 annual_avg_emplvl 41149
- Figure 15
QCEW 2025 annual, US000, private, NAICS 325510, avg_annual_pay 91102
- Figure 12
Buyers and suppliers
Who buys
- Vehicle manufacturers
- Collision repair shops
- Paint distributors
Large non-EU suppliers to the EU
What the full report covers
- 01Executive summary
The answer in one page: size, direction and what moves it - 02Market definition and scope
What is in and out of the European Union market - 03Market size, 2021 to 2025
Historical series and growth rates - 04Outlook to 2031
Base, low and high scenarios with stated assumptions - 05Rules, policy and deadlines
Regulation and programmes that change demand - 06Drivers and barriers
What accelerates or slows adoption, by customer segment - 07Prices, costs and margins
Unit economics where public data allows - 08Competitive landscape
8 to 12 company profiles with recent moves - 09Opportunities and risks
For new entrants, suppliers and investors - 10Method and sources
Every assumption and source, listed
Included with the full report
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- Method note and assumptions
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Frequently asked questions
How big is the EU automotive paint market?
There is no single official market total. Eurostat trade data shows the EU imported €97.7 million of goods under CN 32081090 from outside the EU in 2025 and exported €455.0 million.
Where does the EU import automotive paint from?
United Kingdom was the largest non-EU supplier in 2025. Other large suppliers included Switzerland, Türkiye, United States.
What is the average import price of automotive paint in the EU?
Dividing Eurostat import value by weight gives about €5.85 per kilogram for CN 32081090 in 2025.
Which EU countries export the most automotive paint?
Italy led EU exports to non-EU countries in 2025, followed by Germany, France.
How many US companies are in the automotive paint industry?
BLS counts 1,817 private establishments in NAICS 325510 (Paint and coating manufacturing), the closest official industry.
How many EU companies are in the automotive paint industry?
Eurostat counts 3,131 enterprises in NACE class C2030 (Manufacture of paints, varnishes and similar coatings, printing ink and mastics).
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