The National Paint, Varnish, and Lacquer Association was formed in 1933, and was later renamed the National Paint and Coatings Association (NPCA).
The paint and coatings industry employed an estimated 51,084 Americans in 2001.
The paint and coatings business was considered a mature industry, with growth projected at about 1 to 2 percent annually.
The growth and profits of the paint industry trailed the rest of the economy,
Three basic segments existed within the industry: architectural coatings, original equipment manufacturer (OEM) product coatings, and special purpose coatings.
Architectural coatings, known in the industry as trade sales paint and commonly referred to as house paint, comprised the largest segment, contributing 44 percent of annual gallonage
Through June 1999, the industry produced 667,776,000 gallons of paints and coatings, up from 671,808,000 through June 1998.
Growth in manufacturing, especially automobiles and construction in the mid-1990s, fueled healthy expansion of the paint industry.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, U.S. manufacturers shipped 1.34 billion gallons of paint and coatings in 2001, valued at $16.9 billion
Worldwide, the paint and coating industry generated $70.7 billion in 2001, similar to revenues of $70.6 billion in 2000.
This industry category includes establishments primarily engaged in manufacturing paints, varnishes; lacquers; enamels; shellac; dry powder coatings; putties, wood fillers, and allied products.
Alan H Brandau has written: 'Introduction to coatings technology' -- subject(s): Paint, Coating processes, Coatings industry
In 1967 about 66 percent of paint was consumed within 500 miles of its manufacture. Decentralization persisted through the 1990s.