Argentina. According to the online publication Insider News, a new study published by Information Research (IRL), estimated the demand for paints in Argentina at 265,000 tons for 2007. With an average growth of almost 7% for the whole year, the market is preparing to add more than 100,000 tons of additional demand by 2012, to constitute a market of almost 370,000 tons. Prospects for the industry look good in most segments, but the main driver is the construction sector, which continues to stimulate demand for decorative, protective, wood and industrial coatings in general. Although demand for state-owned construction projects tends to favor the most economical segments of the decorative sector, the increased favorability for consumers is driving the demand for quality paints in the medium and premium segments. Taking into account the markets of construction and physical renovations, the use of decorative paints in the country is divided between 55% of the professional segment and 45% in the do-it-yourself segment.
