Bosad Successfully Represents the Paint Industry

Bosad Successfully Represents the Paints and Coatings Sector The Association of Paint Manufacturers (Bosad), active since 2003, is a strong and respected professional organization representing producers of Construction Paints, Furniture and Wood Coatings, Automotive Paints, Industrial Paints and Protective Coatings, Powder Coatings, Marine Coatings, Printing Inks, and raw material and packaging suppliers through its 72 member organizations and more than 20 working groups. Since its establishment, it has made significant efforts to address the needs of its members. I believe that this professional organization has increasingly important responsibilities today, both to strengthen the international competitiveness of our sector and to improve domestic market conditions. Based on this belief and with the appreciation of our members, I have served as chairman of the association for two terms. Since 2003, our association has brought together producers and supplier organizations of paints and related raw materials in Turkey under a sectoral umbrella, facilitated cooperation among member organizations in compliance with regulations, and represented the sector nationally and internationally. One of our most important activities has been tracking the Construction Paints market size on a quarterly basis since 2005. Through an independent organization and our member organizations representing 80% of the market, we can observe growth and change trends in the construction paints market. The years 2018 and 2019 saw contraction in the paints sector in terms of tonnage. For these years, I can say that contractions of up to 20% occurred. However, as a result of base effects, the pandemic process, and resulting developments and changes in end-consumer preferences, the construction paints sector reached a volume of 517,000 tonnes with approximately 28% growth in 2020 and revenue of TRY 4 billion. We observed that the sector's domestic market growth was reflected in exports, and for decorative paints alone, our 2020 exports exceeded USD 110 million with 10% growth. We estimate year-end figures will reach approximately 600,000 tonnes with around 15% growth. Covid-19 affected the paints sector as it did all sectors, changing the economic activities of our members from production to marketing. The production stages, contents, and market channels of our products now differ from the pre-pandemic period. At this very point, we implemented the 'Paint Preferences During the Pandemic Period Research Project' that all our members needed, sharing the results specifically with project participant members and providing benefits to them. Our recent bureaucratic work includes activities in the Waste Recovery Participation Fee Regulation and Implementation Circular, Turkish-Origin Products Announcement applications, Biocidal Products Regulation, Processed Goods Announcement, unit cost studies with officials from the High Technical Council of the Turkish Ministry of Environment and Urbanization within the scope of Construction Paints. Through our membership in Turkish İMSAD, we continue joint activities with institutions such as the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey, Chemistry Sector Platform, Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Turkish Exporters Assembly, and the Istanbul Chemical Products and Exporters Association. We participate in international activities within the framework of our memberships in the World Coatings Council and the European Council of The Paint, Printing Ink and Artists' Colours Industry. We aim to contribute to the development of Turkish paint industry and provide a holistic perspective from environmental and economic standpoints. In this context, with the support of the Istanbul Chemical Products and Exporters Association, we have begun work on preparing the 'Turkish Paint Industry Sustainability Report'. To be part of a sustainable ecosystem in a globalizing world, we participate in activities related to Titanium Dioxide, REACH, CLP, VOC, TDG (Dangerous Goods Transport), GHS (Globally Harmonized System), biocides, sustainability, and the European Green Deal in relation to the paints sector in the world and Turkey. We closely follow developments with strategic importance for the entire world, such as the Green Deal compliance process and the Paris Climate Agreement. Our bureaucratic meetings and work with public institutions and organizations, representing Construction Paints, Furniture and Wood Coatings, Automotive Paints, Industrial Paints and Protective Coatings, Powder Coatings, Marine Coatings, Printing Inks, and related raw material producers and suppliers, continue at full pace. Through activities conducted by more than 20 technical and professional "Working Groups" composed of relevant experts from 72 Bosad member organizations, we continue to provide benefits to our sector. The Virtual Congress on Organic Coatings, Polymers and Related Materials, organized by our Congress Scientific Board and featuring national and international academic work, was held with strong attendance between 8-9 December 2021. Our paintistanbul & Turkcoat Fair, held with participation from national and international paints, raw materials, production equipment and packaging manufacturers, will be organized in cooperation with Artkim Fuarcılık A.Ş. with Covid-19 precautions at Istanbul Exhibition Center between 17-19 March 2022. On this occasion, we invite all sector stakeholders to our congress and fair. M. Akın Akçalı Chairman of the Board Association of Paint Manufacturers (Bosad)