AkzoNobel, the Netherlands-based global paints and coatings giant, is tightening its sails as turbulent economic currents reshape the market landscape. In its Q3 earnings report released on 22 October 2025, the company confirmed that profitability improved to 15.1 percent, but it simultaneously cut its full-year core-profit guidance, citing exchange-rate pressure and one-time legal provisions.
Chief Executive Officer Greg Paille said, “We’ve achieved operational efficiency across multiple units, yet inflationary input costs and a stronger euro have weighed on our outlook. The fundamentals of demand remain positive, particularly in marine and protective coatings.”
AkzoNobel’s management announced plans to dispose of several non-core assets, including parts of its decorative paints division in Asia and smaller chemical intermediates businesses. Industry observers interpret the move as an attempt to sharpen focus on high-margin technologies like powder and marine coatings.
Despite the lowered outlook, investors took comfort from volume stability and disciplined pricing. The company continues to invest heavily in R&D around low-carbon resins, self-healing coatings, and bio-based formulations.
In India, AkzoNobel India’s business maintained steady demand in the business-to-business (B2B) segment even as decorative sales slowed. Analysts believe the shift toward premiumization and sustainability may cushion profitability in coming quarters.
With Europe’s macro backdrop uncertain and raw-material volatility persisting, AkzoNobel’s cost discipline and innovation edge will determine how well it navigates 2026. Its performance will also serve as a bellwether for the global coatings industry’s financial health.