Beyond colour: How Bangladesh’s paint industry is reinventing surfaces and shaping the future

Bangladesh's paint industry, once focused primarily on colour and coverage, is undergoing a quiet but profound transformation.

Estimated to reach around Tk6,250 crore by 2025 and growing at 6–8% annually, the sector is now increasingly shaped by innovation, climate responsiveness, health and safety considerations, and digital evolution.

Traditionally dominated by basic decorative finishes, the market has expanded to include functional coatings tailored to local environmental demands. Both domestic and multinational players have driven this shift by combining automated production, customised formulations, and a renewed focus on research and product performance.

This transformation reflects not only a change in materials but also a shift in mindset. Paint is no longer merely a visual enhancement—it is increasingly seen as a performance tool for buildings, infrastructure, and urban spaces.

Tech meets texture: The digitalisation of design

Technology has now been integrated across the entire paint value chain—from selection and visualisation to mixing and application.

Augmented reality (AR) tools, AI-driven colour consultants, and digital tinting machines are reshaping the customer experience. Interactive platforms now enable users to preview shades in real time on virtual walls or 3D-rendered interiors.

These innovations reduce repainting errors, minimise waste, and make design decisions more accessible.

Digital tinting systems, now common in urban outlets, produce precise shades in under a minute. App-based platforms like InstaColor and VR-enabled showrooms empower homeowners and professionals to make informed, confident choices, transforming paint from a technical afterthought into a lifestyle decision.

Smart surfaces, evolving sensibilities

The global trend towards 'smart' and performance-enhancing coatings is slowly taking root in Bangladesh. Manufacturers are launching advanced products such as self-cleaning paints, anti-bacterial emulsions, and low-VOC formulations that prioritise health and environmental impact. Some local companies are even exploring water-repellent paints inspired by lotus leaves and experimenting with thermochromic technologies that respond to temperature, though many remain at the pilot or lab stage.

Aesthetically, wellness-driven and emotionally grounded colours—such as earthy tones and warm neutrals—are gaining popularity. Brands are now using international colour trend forecasts, adapted to local culture and climate, to guide new product lines.

Green by demand: Coatings for a conscious market

Rising environmental and health awareness is reshaping consumer preferences, especially in urban, institutional, and public sector segments.

Paints with eco-certifications or low-VOC emissions are no longer niche offerings—they are fast becoming the new standard. Industry insiders report that nearly half of all new premium product launches in recent years meet environmental or safety benchmarks.

Anti-bacterial coatings are in demand for hospitals and schools, while odour-free paints have grown in popularity in residential and hospitality spaces.

Architects working on LEED-certified and public infrastructure projects increasingly specify such coatings to meet health codes and sustainability standards. "Green coatings have become a compliance issue—not just a design preference," said one Dhaka-based architect involved in several government developments.

Premium demand from industry and infrastructure

Beyond residential applications, the demand for industrial-grade and premium protective coatings is surging, especially in construction, manufacturing, and energy sectors. Factories, bridges, warehouses, and power plants are increasingly requiring coatings that withstand chemical exposure, abrasion, and extreme weather.

Multilayer epoxy paints, anti-corrosive primers, fire-retardant coatings, and UV-stable finishes have become standard in many industrial projects. Infrastructure contractors are specifying performance coatings that comply with international standards such as ASTM, ISO, and BS.

This shift is driven not only by regulatory requirements but also by a growing awareness of long-term cost efficiency. High-performance coatings extend maintenance intervals and ensure compliance with safety audits—an essential consideration for export-oriented industries and mega projects.

Stronger than salt: coatings that combat climate

Given Bangladesh's coastal geography, high humidity, and frequent flooding, the need for climate-adaptive coatings is rising fast.

Saline-resistant, marine-grade, and heat-reflective paints are now essential—not optional—in specific regions.

Manufacturers have launched targeted products for coastal districts such as Khulna, Barisal, and Cox's Bazar.

Marine coatings are also being used in port infrastructure, naval dockyards, and oil depots.

Research from BUET shows that using appropriate protective coatings can extend infrastructure lifespan by 25–30%, significantly reducing the lifecycle costs of bridges, coastal buildings, and industrial assets.

Reflective exterior paints, which reduce solar absorption, are gaining popularity in heat-prone cities like Dhaka, where surface temperatures can exceed 40°C.
 For example, Berger's Weathercoat Long Life and EcoCoat lines use hybrid polymers to repel moisture and reflect heat. Similarly, Nippon's Weatherbond Solareflect can lower surface temperatures by up to 5°C.

Eyes on export: Bangladesh looks beyond borders

Although Bangladesh's verified paint exports remain small—under $50,000 annually, according to Export Promotion Bureau data—the industry's export aspirations are growing.

Companies are investing in compliance systems and factory upgrades aimed at achieving international certifications such as ISO 9001, SIRIM QAS, and SASO.

There is particular interest in exporting to climate-similar markets in South Asia, the Middle East, and East Africa.

Marine coatings, saline-resistant emulsions, and eco-certified paints are among the product categories being positioned for these markets.

The aim is to align with the government's broader strategy of diversifying exports beyond garments and leather.

Paint could emerge as a value-added export item—not in bulk, but through performance and speciality.

The future coat

Bangladesh's paint industry is no longer just about colouring walls—it is becoming an essential contributor to sustainable construction, industrial protection, and aesthetic innovation. With a fusion of local creativity and global expertise, the sector is blending technology, climate science, and design into every can.

From AR-driven colour previews to corrosion-proof coatings, paint in Bangladesh is entering a new era—less decorative, more decisive.  As the market matures and export doors open, the industry's transformation is well underway.

For Bangladesh, the final coat is no longer the end—it is the beginning of a bolder, better-built future.

And with most of the world's major paint companies active in the country and competing to capture a high-value market, the potential ahead speaks volumes about their seriousness.