More paint comes into play

“Bisness”, a Ukrainian financial publication, reports that it has observed the appearance of increasing numbers of locally produced, water-based paints and coatings as retailer brands in the big DIY stores of Ukraine. The reason for this trend is, on the one hand, the need to replace imports in order to minimize the effects of currency fluctuations. What is more, local producers feel they are definitely in a position to offer full-value alternatives.Currently the DIY stores are the most important channel of distribution for water-based paints and coatings in Ukraine. In the first six months of 2012 alone their sales rose by 15 per cent in this area. Products based on organic solvents are principally available from builders’ merchants; their sales fell by 21 per cent in retail building materials outlets. The latter are becoming increasingly insignificant now that customers have higher expectations.