Paints makers, SON finalise standards for West Africa trade

With the lead content in Nigerian paints being in the same level as other countries, members of the Paints Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (PMA) have begun moves to harmonise products’ standards in the West Africa region.

The operatives had worked on the common standards for paints with the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) through a joint technical committee, as part of the Commission of West African States (ECOWAS) to ease trade in the region.

The association is also collaborating with the Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC) to find alternatives to some of the imported inputs in the paint industry.

PMA President, Rotimi Aluko, believes that the completion of the Dangote Petro-chemical Company, its members will reduce their dependence on imported inputs, as 20 per cent of raw materials are sourced locally.

Aluko, who spoke at a media briefing on the fifth edition of its bi-annual raw materials, equipment and paints exhibition – PMA Nigeria 2017 Coating Show, scheduled for this month, said the price of paints products has remained stable due to government’s intervention in the foreign exchange rate market.

He, however, revealed that all the paint manufactures suffered value depreciation, which made the firms to reduce credit levels and adopted strategies to cushion effects on their customers.

Aluko further explained that the two-day event would showcase the various raw materials, machinery, production and testing equipment as well as packaging materials in the production of paints, inks and allied products.

Local and foreign exhibitors, as well as other professionals are expected at the event.“Made in Nigeria paint products will also be on display. It will provide a platform for manufacturers/suppliers of paints, raw materials/equipment and packaging materials to exchange ideas on current developments on raw materials and technology for paint manufacturing,” he said.

PMA Executive Secretary, Jude Maduka, said the industry has an investment of over N30 billion and a yearly installed capacity of 200 million metric litres of assorted paints annually.