World demand for architectural paint is forecast to rise 3.6 percent per year through 2013 to 22.8 million metric tons, valued at $51 billion. Growth will slow in comparison to the performance of the 2003 to 2008 period due to a deceleration in global building construction growth through 2013. These and other trends are presented in "World Architectural Paint," a new study from industry research firm The Freedonia Group Inc. As was the case over the past decade, the most rapid gains will arise in the world’s emerging markets, most prominently in Asia. North America will post slightly above-average gains through 2013. Western Europe’s share of the global market will continue to slip as the region registers weak gains, due to below-average economic and building construction expenditure growth, mortgage sector weaknesses in some constituent nations and stagnant regional population gains. Nevertheless, Western Europe will remain the world’s leading regional net exporter of architectural paint, due largely to the presence of Germany.

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