Primer Market

Global Primer Market Overview

Primer Market Size was valued at USD 13.23 Billion in 2023. The primer industry is projected to grow from USD 13.99 Billion in 2024 to USD 20.76 Billion by 2032, exhibiting a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.06% during the forecast period (2024 - 2032). Rising demand for paints and coatings is the expanding construction sector, and the increase in the migrant population in urban areas. The renewal of aging infrastructure in established cities is the key market driver enhancing market growth.Source: Secondary Research, Primary Research, MRFR Database, and Analyst Review

Primer Market Trends

• Rising demand for paints and coatings is driving the market growth

The word "primer" means "first" in this context; it refers to the first coat directly applied to the bare substrate, wood, and steel before painting to level the surface and provide a smooth finish. The primer strengthens adhesion and keeps moisture from penetrating the material’s surface, which is required for the final paint. Before painting, a smooth surface is achieved on materials by applying a layer of coating called primer.

In addition to shielding the material from paint, it keeps moisture from penetrating the surface, stops paint from soaking into the substrate, expands the connection, and delays paint wear outside the material. Much primer is used in the building and construction industries. Before painting, it is a primer coat for walls and other substrates. The construction industry has seen strong growth in Asia, driven by rising manufacturing and service sector infrastructure, rising housing construction, and apparent government spending on infrastructure development.

The American Coatings Association estimates that in 2021, the United States exported paint and coatings worth USD 1.1 billion to Canada and USD 632 million to Mexico, totaling USD 1.7 billion. In the United States, about 868 million gallons of architectural paint will be consumed in 2021. Before applying undercoats or topcoats, pigmented primers are coated onto both old and new surfaces. A significant factor in the rising demand for paints and coatings is the expanding construction sector. The primer market will eventually benefit from the increased demand for paints and coatings that will result from an increase in the volume of construction activities. The building and construction sector has been expanding over the past few years due to various factors, including an aging population, the development of new cities, an increase in the migrant population in urban areas, and the renewal of aging infrastructure in established cities. By 2030, this sector is anticipated to generate USD 4.4 trillion in revenue.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the value of construction in the United States was USD 1.58 trillion in 2021, making it one of the top construction markets in the world. According to the US Census Bureau, building permits were issued for 1,873,000 privately owned housing units in December 2021. Compared to November's revised rate of 1,717,000, this is an increase of 91%. A projected 1,724,700 housing units were authorized by building permits in 2021, a 17-point 2 percent increase from the 1,471,100 the year before. Thus, driving the primer market revenue.

Primer Market Segment Insights

Primer Material Insights

Based on material, the primer market segmentation includes dispersants, epoxy resins, biocides, and others. The epoxy resins segment dominated the market; Automotive, marine, aviation, energy infrastructure construction, oil and gas, and other industries frequently use epoxy primers on metal substrates. Due to their excellent adhesion, corrosion, and chemical resistance, these primers are widely used in automotive and marine applications. Their use also contributes to lower long-term maintenance costs.

Primer Applications Insights

Based on applications, the primer market segmentation includes concrete, wood, metal, and plastic. The metal category generated the most income. Primers are designed to forge a solid bond between the metal surface and the ensuing coats of paint or coating. The likelihood of the topcoat peeling, chipping, or flaking over time is decreased because they increase the topcoat's adhesion. When moisture, air, and other environmental elements are exposed, metal surfaces are vulnerable to corrosion and rust formation. Corrosion inhibitors, which form a protective barrier and keep the metal from coming into contact with these corrosive elements, are frequently found in primers made for metal. This keeps the metal's structural integrity and helps it last longer.

Figure 1: Primer Market, by Applications, 2022 & 2032 (USD Billion)Source: Secondary Research, Primary Research, MRFR Database and Analyst Review

Primer End-Use Industry Insights

Based on the end-use industry, the primer market segmentation includes automotive, marine, building & construction and others. The building & construction category generated the most income. The construction and building industry rewards primers the best for flooring applications on concrete and stonework surfaces. The growth of the building and construction industries has boosted the primer market because of the development and growing populations in emerging economies. Due to the increased use of primers in building and construction, APAC has the largest population among the developing economies. Increased public spending on infrastructure development in developing nations like China, India, Malaysia, and others is to blame for the expansion of this region. The primary market is boosted by the infrastructure improvements in this region, which generate a huge demand for coatings. Primers are widely used by manufacturers to extend product shelf life and durability, which has attracted several vendors to the market.

Primer Regional Insights

By region, the study provides market insights into North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific and Rest of the World. The North American primary market area will dominate this market; there have been numerous construction projects, including residential, commercial, and industrial ones. Primers are frequently used in construction to protect metal surfaces from corrosion, improve adhesion, and increase the overall durability of the structures such as structural steel, metal roofs, and metal doors. The growth of the North American primer market is largely due to the rising demand for primer coatings in the construction sector.

Further, the major countries studied in the market report are The US, Canada, German, France, the UK, Italy, Spain, China, Japan, India, Australia, South Korea, and Brazil.

Figure 2: PRIMER MARKET SHARE BY REGION 2022 (USD Billion) Source: Secondary Research, Primary Research, MRFR Database and Analyst Review

Europe’s primer market accounts for the second-largest market share. Europe has some of the strictest environmental laws in the world, especially regarding hazardous materials and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). With these regulations, consumers are seeking low-VOC, environmentally-friendly primers. Due to the manufacturers' obligation to abide by these laws and create innovative primer formulations that satisfy high standards, the European market for eco-friendly primers is expanding. Further, the German primer market held the largest market share, and the UK primer market was the fastest-growing market in the European region.

The Asia-Pacific Primer Market is expected to grow fastest from 2023 to 2032. The demand for primer is anticipated to grow significantly in APAC, with China and India being major drivers of the market's expansion. Due to rising government spending on expanding the automotive industry, building the transportation system, exporting more furniture, and expanding other industries, China will likely experience significant growth and demand for primer. The region's market demand is anticipated to increase due to technological advancement in the automotive industry, which enjoys enormous popularity and high acceptance among the populace. Moreover, China’s primer market held the largest market share, and the Indian primer market was the fastest-growing market in the Asia-Pacific region.

Primer Key Market Players & Competitive Insights

Leading market players are investing heavily in research and development in order to expand their product lines, which will help the primer market grow even more. Market participants are also undertaking various strategic activities to expand their footprint, with important market developments including new product launches, contractual agreements, mergers and acquisitions, higher investments, and collaboration with other organizations. To expand and survive in a more competitive and rising market climate, primer industry must offer cost-effective items.

Manufacturing locally to minimize operational costs is one of the key business tactics manufacturers use in the primer industry to benefit clients and increase the market sector. In recent years, the primer industry has offered some of the most significant advantages to medicine. Major players in the primer market, including BASF SE (Germany), Tikkurila OYJ (Finland), PPG Industries Inc. (US), RPM International Inc. (US), Berger Paints India Limited (India), Hempel A/S (Denmark), Asian Paints (India), Nippon Paint Holdings Co., Ltd (Japan), AXALTA (US), Valspar (US), Kansai Paint Co. Ltd (Japan), Akzo Nobel NV (Netherlands), The Sherwin-Williams Company (US), Jotun (Norway), Masco Corporation (US) and others, are attempting to increase market demand by investing in research and development operations.

BASF SE (Germany), At BASF, people are the key to long-term success, and everyone has talent. They give their employees the resources, direction, and chances they need to advance and succeed professionally and personally. BASF creates chemistry by giving the customer the assistance required to perform at their peak and achieve their goals. After all, customer success is correlated with BASF. Whatever career path customers want, BASF is a fantastic place to start.

Akzo Nobel NV (Netherlands), AkzoNobel has acquired the liquid coatings division of Lankwitzer Lackfabrik for aluminum wheels to bolster its performance coatings product line, which will complement its current powder coatings product line and increase its assortment of cutting-edge goods. In Latin America, Axalta introduced next-generation basecoat technology for the automotive refinishing sector. At the Coatings Technology Center in Mangalore, India, BASF expanded its Automotive Coatings Application Center. A manufacturer of coatings for light truck wheels and automotive applications, Cetelon Lackfabrik GmbH, was fully acquired by PPG. With this acquisition, PPG can expand on its liquid and powder coating technologies, color matching capabilities, and current coatings product lineup.

Key Companies in the primer market include

• BASF SE (Germany)

• Tikkurila OYJ (Finland)

• PPG Industries Inc. (US)

• RPM International Inc. (US)

• Berger Paints India Limited (India)

• Hempel A/S (Denmark)

• Asian Paints (India)

• Nippon Paint Holdings Co., Ltd (Japan)

• AXALTA (US)

• Valspar (US)

• Kansai Paint Co. Ltd (Japan)

• Akzo Nobel NV (Netherlands)

• The Sherwin-Williams Company (US)

• Jotun (Norway)

• Masco Corporation (US)

Primer Industry Developments

May 2022: PPG Industries, Inc. announced the launch of PPG ENVIROCRON's portfolio of Primeron primer powders designed to provide superior corrosion resistance to metal substrates, including steel, hot dip galvanized steel, metallic steel and aluminum.

January 2022: BASF SE expands the production capacity of automotive finishing coatings at its coatings plant in Jiangmen, Guangdong Province, southern China. Our portfolio of automotive topcoats includes fillers, primers, basecoats, colorants, clearcoats, topcoats, hardeners, thinners, quick driers and mixers.

Primer Market Segmentation

Primer Material Outlook

• Dispersants

• Epoxy Resins

• Biocides

• Others

Primer Distribution Applications Outlook

• Concrete

• Wood

• Metal

• Plastic

• Others

Primer Distribution End-Use Industry Outlook

• Automotive

• Marine

• Building & Construction

• Others

Primer Regional Outlook

• North America
  • US
  • Canada
• Europe
  • Germany
  • France
  • UK
  • Italy
  • Spain
  • Rest of Europe
• Asia-Pacific
  • China
  • Japan
  • India
  • Australia
  • South Korea
  • Australia
  • Rest of Asia-Pacific
• Rest of the World
  • Middle East
  • Africa
  • Latin America

Primer Market Segmentation

Primer Material Outlook (USD Billion, 2018-2032)

• Dispersants

• Epoxy Resins

• Biocides

• Others

Primer Applications Outlook (USD Billion, 2018-2032)

• Concrete

• Wood

• Metal

• Plastic

• Others

Primer End-Use Outlook (USD Billion, 2018-2032)

• Automotive

• Marine

• Building & Construction

• Others

Primer Regional Outlook (USD Billion, 2018-2032)

• North America Outlook (USD Billion, 2018-2032)

  • North America Primer by Material

    • Dispersants

    • Epoxy Resins

    • Biocides

    • Others

  • North America Primer by Applications

    • Concrete

    • Wood

    • Metal

    • Plastic

    • Others

  • North America Primer by End-Use Industry

    • Automotive

    • Marine

    • Building & Construction

    • Others

  • US Outlook (USD Billion, 2018-2032)

  • US Primer by Material

    • Dispersants

    • Epoxy Resins

    • Biocides

    • Others

  • US Primer by Applications

    • Concrete

    • Wood

    • Metal

    • Plastic

    • Others

  • US Primer by End-Use Industry

    • Automotive

    • Marine

    • Building & Construction

    • Others

  • CANADA Outlook (USD Billion, 2018-2032)

  • CANADA Primer by Material

    • Dispersants

    • Epoxy Resins

    • Biocides

    • Others

  • CANADA Primer by Applications

    • Concrete

    • Wood

    • Metal

    • Plastic

    • Others

  • CANADA Primer by End-Use Industry

    • Automotive

    • Marine

    • Building & Construction

    • Others

• Europe Outlook (USD Billion, 2018-2032)

  • Europe Primer by Material

    • Dispersants

    • Epoxy Resins

    • Biocides

    • Others

  • Europe Primer by Applications

    • Concrete

    • Wood

    • Metal

    • Plastic

    • Others

  • Europe Primer by End-Use Industry

    • Automotive

    • Marine

    • Building & Construction

    • Others

  • Germany Outlook (USD Billion, 2018-2032)

  • Germany Primer by Material

    • Dispersants

    • Epoxy Resins

    • Biocides

    • Others

  • Germany Primer by Applications

    • Concrete

    • Wood

    • Metal

    • Plastic

    • Others

  • Germany Primer by End-Use Industry

    • Automotive

    • Marine

    • Building & Construction

    • Others

  • France Outlook (USD Billion, 2018-2032)

  • France Primer by Material

    • Dispersants

    • Epoxy Resins

    • Biocides

    • Others

  • France Primer by Applications

    • Concrete

    • Wood

    • Metal

    • Plastic

    • Others

  • France Primer by End-Use Industry

    • Automotive

    • Marine

    • Building & Construction

    • Others

  • UK Outlook (USD Billion, 2018-2032)

  • UK Primer by Material

    • Dispersants

    • Epoxy Resins

    • Biocides

    • Others

  • UK Primer by Applications

    • Concrete

    • Wood

    • Metal

    • Plastic

    • Others

  • UK Primer by End-Use Industry

    • Automotive

    • Marine

    • Building & Construction

    • Others

  • ITALY Outlook (USD Billion, 2018-2032)

  • ITALY Primer by Material

    • Dispersants

    • Epoxy Resins

    • Biocides

    • Others

  • ITALY Primer by Applications

    • Concrete

    • Wood

    • Metal

    • Plastic

    • Others

  • ITALY Primer by End-Use Industry

    • Automotive

    • Marine

    • Building & Construction

    • Others

  • SPAIN Outlook (USD Billion, 2018-2032)

  • Spain Primer by Material

    • Dispersants

    • Epoxy Resins

    • Biocides

    • Others

  • Spain Primer by Applications

    • Concrete

    • Wood

    • Metal

    • Plastic

    • Others

  • Spain Primer by End-Use Industry

    • Automotive

    • Marine

    • Building & Construction

    • Others

  • Rest Of Europe Outlook (USD Billion, 2018-2032)

  • Rest Of Europe Primer by Material

    • Dispersants

    • Epoxy Resins

    • Biocides

    • Others

  • REST OF EUROPE Primer by Applications

    • Concrete

    • Wood

    • Metal

    • Plastic

    • Others

  • REST OF EUROPE Primer by End-Use Industry

    • Automotive

    • Marine

    • Building & Construction

    • Others

• Asia-Pacific Outlook (USD Billion, 2018-2032)

  • Asia-Pacific Primer by Material

    • Dispersants

    • Epoxy Resins

    • Biocides

    • Others

  • Asia-Pacific Primer by Applications

    • Concrete

    • Wood

    • Metal

    • Plastic

    • Others

  • Asia-Pacific Primer by End-Use Industry

    • Automotive

    • Marine

    • Building & Construction

    • Others

  • China Outlook (USD Billion, 2018-2032)

  • China Primer by Material

    • Dispersants

    • Epoxy Resins

    • Biocides

    • Others

  • China Primer by Applications

    • Concrete

    • Wood

    • Metal

    • Plastic

    • Others

  • China Primer by End-Use Industry

    • Automotive

    • Marine

    • Building & Construction

    • Others

  • Japan Outlook (USD Billion, 2018-2032)

  • Japan Primer by Material

    • Dispersants

    • Epoxy Resins

    • Biocides

    • Others

  • Japan Primer by Applications

    • Concrete

    • Wood

    • Metal

    • Plastic

    • Others

  • Japan Primer by End-Use Industry

    • Automotive

    • Marine

    • Building & Construction

    • Others

  • India Outlook (USD Billion, 2018-2032)

  • India Primer by Material

    • Dispersants

    • Epoxy Resins

    • Biocides

    • Others

  • India Primer by Applications

    • Concrete

    • Wood

    • Metal

    • Plastic

    • Others

  • India Primer by End-Use Industry

    • Automotive

    • Marine

    • Building & Construction

    • Others

  • Australia Outlook (USD Billion, 2018-2032)

  • Australia Primer by Material

    • Dispersants

    • Epoxy Resins

    • Biocides

    • Others

  • Australia Primer by Applications

    • Concrete

    • Wood

    • Metal

    • Plastic

    • Others

  • Australia Primer by End-Use Industry

    • Automotive

    • Marine

    • Building & Construction

    • Others

  • Rest of Asia-Pacific Outlook (USD Billion, 2018-2032)

  • Rest of Asia-Pacific Primer by Material

    • Dispersants

    • Epoxy Resins

    • Biocides

    • Others

  • Rest of Asia-Pacific Primer by Applications

    • Concrete

    • Wood

    • Metal

    • Plastic

    • Others

  • Rest of Asia-Pacific Primer by End-Use Industry

    • Automotive

    • Marine

    • Building & Construction

    • Others

• Rest of the World Outlook (USD Billion, 2018-2032)

  • Rest of the World Primer by Material

    • Dispersants

    • Epoxy Resins

    • Biocides

    • Others

  • Rest of the World Primer by Applications

    • Concrete

    • Wood

    • Metal

    • Plastic

    • Others

  • Rest of the World Primer by End-Use Industry

    • Automotive

    • Marine

    • Building & Construction

    • Others

  • Middle East Outlook (USD Billion, 2018-2032)

  • Middle East Primer by Material

    • Dispersants

    • Epoxy Resins

    • Biocides

    • Others

  • Middle East Primer by Applications

    • Concrete

    • Wood

    • Metal

    • Plastic

    • Others

  • Middle East Primer by End-Use Industry

    • Automotive

    • Marine

    • Building & Construction

    • Others

  • Africa Outlook (USD Billion, 2018-2032)

  • Africa Primer by Material

    • Dispersants

    • Epoxy Resins

    • Biocides

    • Others

  • Africa Primer by Applications

    • Concrete

    • Wood

    • Metal

    • Plastic

    • Others

  • Africa Primer by End-Use Industry

    • Automotive

    • Marine

    • Building & Construction

    • Others

  • Latin America Outlook (USD Billion, 2018-2032)

  • Latin America Primer by Material

    • Dispersants

    • Epoxy Resins

    • Biocides

    • Others

  • Latin America Primer by Applications

    • Concrete

    • Wood

    • Metal

    • Plastic

    • Others

  • Latin America Primer by End-Use Industry

    • Automotive

    • Marine

    • Building & Construction

    • Others