Cost ReferenceBeta

Paints and coatings (EU): cost structure and price drivers

Data period 2026-09Markdown

Materials 74%, labour 18% of the cost.

Cost structure

NACE2 C20.30 · Data 2026-09

ElementShareBasis
Materials74%Eurostat structural business statistics 2024 (NACE C20.30, EU27)
Labour18%Eurostat structural business statistics 2024 (NACE C20.30, EU27)
Other8%Eurostat structural business statistics 2024 (NACE C20.30, EU27)

What each driver did

DriverShareSeries3 months12 months24 months
labour costs18%Labour cost index by NACE Rev. 2 activity - nominal value, quarterly data · Calendar adjusted data, not seasonally adjusted data · Index, 2020=100 · Labour cost for LCI (compensation of employees plus taxes minus subsidies) · European Union - 27 countries (from 2020) · Manufacturing (ESLCICEU27)—+2.4%—
producer prices (overhead and margin)8%Producer prices in industry, total - monthly data · Producer prices · Unadjusted data (i.e. neither seasonally adjusted nor calendar adjusted data) · Index, 2021=100 · European Union - 27 countries (from 2020) · Manufacture of paints, varnishes and similar coatings, printing ink and mastics (ESPPIC203EU27)+1.3%+4.7%+4.6%

What increase is justified today

Price setJustified todayRange
6 months agoCan't tell: the index data doesn't reach back to 2026-03 for most of this item's cost; give a later old price date—
12 months agoCan't tell: the index data doesn't reach back to 2025-09 for most of this item's cost; give a later old price date—
24 months agoCan't tell: the index data doesn't reach back to 2024-09 for most of this item's cost; give a later old price date—

What producers charged

Producer price indexLatest3 months12 months24 months
Producer prices in industry, total - monthly data · Producer prices · Unadjusted data (i.e. neither seasonally adjusted nor calendar adjusted data) · Index, 2021=100 · European Union - 27 countries (from 2020) · Manufacture of paints, varnishes and similar coatings, printing ink and mastics (ESPPIC203EU27, Index, 2021=100)123.7 (2026-09)+1.3%+4.7%+4.6%

Sources

  • Eurostat structural business statistics 2024 (NACE C20.30, EU27)
  • Labour cost index by NACE Rev. 2 activity - nominal value, quarterly data · Calendar adjusted data, not seasonally adjusted data · Index, 2020=100 · Labour cost for LCI (compensation of employees plus taxes minus subsidies) · European Union - 27 countries (from 2020) · Manufacturing (ESLCICEU27, eurostat)
  • Producer prices in industry, total - monthly data · Producer prices · Unadjusted data (i.e. neither seasonally adjusted nor calendar adjusted data) · Index, 2021=100 · European Union - 27 countries (from 2020) · Manufacture of paints, varnishes and similar coatings, printing ink and mastics (ESPPIC203EU27, eurostat)

Materials 68%, labour 24%, energy 1% of the cost. A price set 12 months ago justifies about +10.5% today (+6.4% to +14.6%).

Cost structure

NACE2 C20.30 · Data 2026-09

ElementShareBasis
Materials68%Eurostat structural business statistics 2024 (NACE C20.30, DE)
Labour24%Eurostat structural business statistics 2024 (NACE C20.30, DE)
Energy1%Eurostat structural business statistics 2024 (NACE C20.30, DE)
Other7%Eurostat structural business statistics 2024 (NACE C20.30, DE)

What each driver did

DriverShareSeries3 months12 months24 months
chemicals68%Other organic raw materials and chemicals (DESTATIS:GP19-2014)−1.7%+14.5%+9.2%
electricity1%Electricity prices for non-household consumers - bi-annual data · Electricity · Consumption from 2 000 MWh to 19 999 MWh - band ID · Kilowatt-hour · Excluding VAT and other recoverable taxes and levies · Euro · Germany (ESELECIDDE)—−8.6%—
labour costs24%Labour cost index by NACE Rev. 2 activity - nominal value, quarterly data · Calendar adjusted data, not seasonally adjusted data · Index, 2020=100 · Labour cost for LCI (compensation of employees plus taxes minus subsidies) · Germany · Manufacturing (ESLCICDE)—+1.9%—
producer prices (overhead and margin)7%Producer prices in industry, total - monthly data · Producer prices · Unadjusted data (i.e. neither seasonally adjusted nor calendar adjusted data) · Index, 2021=100 · Germany · Manufacture of paints, varnishes and similar coatings, printing ink and mastics (ESPPIC203DE)+1.3%+4.5%+5.1%

What increase is justified today

Price setJustified todayRange
6 months ago+10.0%+6.0% to +13.9%
12 months ago+10.5%+6.4% to +14.6%
24 months ago+6.6%+2.8% to +10.4%

What producers charged

Producer price indexLatest3 months12 months24 months
Producer prices in industry, total - monthly data · Producer prices · Unadjusted data (i.e. neither seasonally adjusted nor calendar adjusted data) · Index, 2021=100 · Germany · Manufacture of paints, varnishes and similar coatings, printing ink and mastics (ESPPIC203DE, Index, 2021=100)122.7 (2026-09)+1.3%+4.5%+5.1%

Sources

  • Eurostat structural business statistics 2024 (NACE C20.30, DE)
  • Other organic raw materials and chemicals (DESTATIS:GP19-2014, destatis)
  • Electricity prices for non-household consumers - bi-annual data · Electricity · Consumption from 2 000 MWh to 19 999 MWh - band ID · Kilowatt-hour · Excluding VAT and other recoverable taxes and levies · Euro · Germany (ESELECIDDE, eurostat)
  • Labour cost index by NACE Rev. 2 activity - nominal value, quarterly data · Calendar adjusted data, not seasonally adjusted data · Index, 2020=100 · Labour cost for LCI (compensation of employees plus taxes minus subsidies) · Germany · Manufacturing (ESLCICDE, eurostat)
  • Producer prices in industry, total - monthly data · Producer prices · Unadjusted data (i.e. neither seasonally adjusted nor calendar adjusted data) · Index, 2021=100 · Germany · Manufacture of paints, varnishes and similar coatings, printing ink and mastics (ESPPIC203DE, eurostat)

Materials 67%, labour 26%, energy 1% of the cost. A price set 12 months ago justifies about +4.4% today (+2.9% to +5.9%).

Cost structure

NACE2 C20.30 · Data 2026-09

ElementShareBasis
Materials67%Eurostat structural business statistics 2024 (NACE C20.30, AT)
Labour26%Eurostat structural business statistics 2024 (NACE C20.30, AT)
Energy1%Eurostat structural business statistics 2024 (NACE C20.30, AT)
Other7%Eurostat structural business statistics 2024 (NACE C20.30, AT)

What each driver did

DriverShareSeries3 months12 months24 months
chemicals67%Industrial chemicals (wholesale prices Austria) (Statistik Austria:467512)−1.1%+5.1%+5.5%
electricity1%Electricity prices for non-household consumers - bi-annual data · Electricity · Consumption from 2 000 MWh to 19 999 MWh - band ID · Kilowatt-hour · Excluding VAT and other recoverable taxes and levies · Euro · Austria (ESELECIDAT)—−2.8%—
labour costs26%Labour cost index by NACE Rev. 2 activity - nominal value, quarterly data · Calendar adjusted data, not seasonally adjusted data · Index, 2020=100 · Labour cost for LCI (compensation of employees plus taxes minus subsidies) · Austria · Manufacturing (ESLCICAT)—+1.7%—
producer prices (overhead and margin)7%Producer prices in industry, total - monthly data · Producer prices · Unadjusted data (i.e. neither seasonally adjusted nor calendar adjusted data) · Index, 2021=100 · Austria · Manufacture of chemicals and chemical products (ESPPIC20AT)−5.0%+8.7%+4.3%

What increase is justified today

Price setJustified todayRange
6 months ago+4.7%+3.0% to +6.5%
12 months ago+4.4%+2.9% to +5.9%
24 months ago+4.0%+1.1% to +6.8%

What producers charged

Producer price indexLatest3 months12 months24 months
Producer prices in industry, total - monthly data · Producer prices · Unadjusted data (i.e. neither seasonally adjusted nor calendar adjusted data) · Index, 2021=100 · Austria · Manufacture of chemicals and chemical products (ESPPIC20AT, Index, 2021=100)120.7 (2026-09)−5.0%+8.7%+4.3%

Sources

  • Eurostat structural business statistics 2024 (NACE C20.30, AT)
  • Industrial chemicals (wholesale prices Austria) (Statistik Austria:467512, statistik_austria)
  • Electricity prices for non-household consumers - bi-annual data · Electricity · Consumption from 2 000 MWh to 19 999 MWh - band ID · Kilowatt-hour · Excluding VAT and other recoverable taxes and levies · Euro · Austria (ESELECIDAT, eurostat)
  • Labour cost index by NACE Rev. 2 activity - nominal value, quarterly data · Calendar adjusted data, not seasonally adjusted data · Index, 2020=100 · Labour cost for LCI (compensation of employees plus taxes minus subsidies) · Austria · Manufacturing (ESLCICAT, eurostat)
  • Producer prices in industry, total - monthly data · Producer prices · Unadjusted data (i.e. neither seasonally adjusted nor calendar adjusted data) · Index, 2021=100 · Austria · Manufacture of chemicals and chemical products (ESPPIC20AT, eurostat)

Materials 78%, labour 13%, energy 1% of the cost.

Cost structure

NACE2 C20.30 · Data 2026-09

ElementShareBasis
Materials78%Eurostat structural business statistics 2024 (NACE C20.30, NL)
Labour13%Eurostat structural business statistics 2024 (NACE C20.30, NL)
Energy1%Eurostat structural business statistics 2024 (NACE C20.30, NL)
Other8%Eurostat structural business statistics 2024 (NACE C20.30, NL)

What each driver did

DriverShareSeries3 months12 months24 months
electricity1%Electricity prices for non-household consumers - bi-annual data · Electricity · Consumption from 2 000 MWh to 19 999 MWh - band ID · Kilowatt-hour · Excluding VAT and other recoverable taxes and levies · Euro · Netherlands (ESELECIDNL)—−5.2%—
labour costs13%Labour cost index by NACE Rev. 2 activity - nominal value, quarterly data · Calendar adjusted data, not seasonally adjusted data · Index, 2020=100 · Labour cost for LCI (compensation of employees plus taxes minus subsidies) · Netherlands · Manufacturing (ESLCICNL)—+2.1%—
producer prices (overhead and margin)8%Producer prices in industry, total - monthly data · Producer prices · Unadjusted data (i.e. neither seasonally adjusted nor calendar adjusted data) · Index, 2021=100 · Netherlands · Manufacture of paints, varnishes and similar coatings, printing ink and mastics (ESPPIC203NL)+1.4%+7.9%+5.4%

What increase is justified today

Price setJustified todayRange
6 months agoCan't tell: the index data doesn't reach back to 2026-03 for most of this item's cost; give a later old price date—
12 months agoCan't tell: the index data doesn't reach back to 2025-09 for most of this item's cost; give a later old price date—
24 months agoCan't tell: the index data doesn't reach back to 2024-09 for most of this item's cost; give a later old price date—

What producers charged

Producer price indexLatest3 months12 months24 months
Producer prices in industry, total - monthly data · Producer prices · Unadjusted data (i.e. neither seasonally adjusted nor calendar adjusted data) · Index, 2021=100 · Netherlands · Manufacture of paints, varnishes and similar coatings, printing ink and mastics (ESPPIC203NL, Index, 2021=100)124.3 (2026-09)+1.4%+7.9%+5.4%

Sources

  • Eurostat structural business statistics 2024 (NACE C20.30, NL)
  • Electricity prices for non-household consumers - bi-annual data · Electricity · Consumption from 2 000 MWh to 19 999 MWh - band ID · Kilowatt-hour · Excluding VAT and other recoverable taxes and levies · Euro · Netherlands (ESELECIDNL, eurostat)
  • Labour cost index by NACE Rev. 2 activity - nominal value, quarterly data · Calendar adjusted data, not seasonally adjusted data · Index, 2020=100 · Labour cost for LCI (compensation of employees plus taxes minus subsidies) · Netherlands · Manufacturing (ESLCICNL, eurostat)
  • Producer prices in industry, total - monthly data · Producer prices · Unadjusted data (i.e. neither seasonally adjusted nor calendar adjusted data) · Index, 2021=100 · Netherlands · Manufacture of paints, varnishes and similar coatings, printing ink and mastics (ESPPIC203NL, eurostat)

Materials 75%, labour 15%, energy 0% of the cost. A price set 12 months ago justifies about +6.2% today (+3.9% to +8.6%).

Cost structure

NACE2 C20.30 · Data 2026-09

ElementShareBasis
Materials75%Eurostat structural business statistics 2024 (NACE C20.30, IT)
Labour15%Eurostat structural business statistics 2024 (NACE C20.30, IT)
Energy0%Eurostat structural business statistics 2024 (NACE C20.30, IT)
Other10%Eurostat structural business statistics 2024 (NACE C20.30, IT)

What each driver did

DriverShareSeries3 months12 months24 months
chemicals75%Manufacture of other organic basic chemicals (producer prices Italy) (Eurostat:IT-C2014)−6.8%+7.5%+5.8%
electricity0%Electricity prices for non-household consumers - bi-annual data · Electricity · Consumption from 2 000 MWh to 19 999 MWh - band ID · Kilowatt-hour · Excluding VAT and other recoverable taxes and levies · Euro · Italy (ESELECIDIT)—−2.4%—
labour costs15%Labour cost index by NACE Rev. 2 activity - nominal value, quarterly data · Calendar adjusted data, not seasonally adjusted data · Index, 2020=100 · Labour cost for LCI (compensation of employees plus taxes minus subsidies) · Italy · Manufacturing (ESLCICIT)—+1.8%—
producer prices (overhead and margin)10%Producer prices in industry, total - monthly data · Producer prices · Unadjusted data (i.e. neither seasonally adjusted nor calendar adjusted data) · Index, 2021=100 · Italy · Manufacture of paints, varnishes and similar coatings, printing ink and mastics (ESPPIC203IT)+0.5%+3.3%+2.5%

What increase is justified today

Price setJustified todayRange
6 months ago+4.3%+2.7% to +5.9%
12 months ago+6.2%+3.9% to +8.6%
24 months ago+4.6%+2.0% to +7.1%

What producers charged

Producer price indexLatest3 months12 months24 months
Producer prices in industry, total - monthly data · Producer prices · Unadjusted data (i.e. neither seasonally adjusted nor calendar adjusted data) · Index, 2021=100 · Italy · Manufacture of paints, varnishes and similar coatings, printing ink and mastics (ESPPIC203IT, Index, 2021=100)120.5 (2026-09)+0.5%+3.3%+2.5%

Sources

  • Eurostat structural business statistics 2024 (NACE C20.30, IT)
  • Manufacture of other organic basic chemicals (producer prices Italy) (Eurostat:IT-C2014, eurostat)
  • Electricity prices for non-household consumers - bi-annual data · Electricity · Consumption from 2 000 MWh to 19 999 MWh - band ID · Kilowatt-hour · Excluding VAT and other recoverable taxes and levies · Euro · Italy (ESELECIDIT, eurostat)
  • Labour cost index by NACE Rev. 2 activity - nominal value, quarterly data · Calendar adjusted data, not seasonally adjusted data · Index, 2020=100 · Labour cost for LCI (compensation of employees plus taxes minus subsidies) · Italy · Manufacturing (ESLCICIT, eurostat)
  • Producer prices in industry, total - monthly data · Producer prices · Unadjusted data (i.e. neither seasonally adjusted nor calendar adjusted data) · Index, 2021=100 · Italy · Manufacture of paints, varnishes and similar coatings, printing ink and mastics (ESPPIC203IT, eurostat)

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Cost structure
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Method

The cost structure splits what producers in this industry spend into materials, labour, energy and the rest, from public statistics where they exist and labelled as an estimate where they don't. Each driver is a public index. A justified increase is each share times its driver's move since the old price, summed, with a range for how sure the shares are. The producer price index shows what producers actually charged over the same time.

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