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The sale of AkzoNobel India Ltd to the Indian conglomerate JSW for an enterprise value of 1.4 billion euros has not gone unnoticed. The news, confirmed on December 11, 2025, resounds like a strategic turning point in a sector where consolidation is in full swing. This is an opportunity for marine professionals to take stock of what this transaction means for the marine paints and coatings market, both in Asia and in Europe.
Reconfiguration in a market under pressure
This sale is not an isolated decision. It is part of a repositioning sequence initiated by AkzoNobel in October 2024. The aim is to streamline its portfolio and focus on its most profitable activities, following the acquisition of Axalta for $9.2 billion. The latter operation created a group valued at around $25 billion, repositioning the group in premium segments worldwide.
Contrary to what the sale might suggest, AkzoNobel is not drawing a definitive line under the Indian market. The group is keeping its India Powder Coatings division, as well as its research and development center, integrated into its global network. This retention underlines a desire not to cut all ties with a fast-growing territory, while offloading product lines that are more sensitive to local competition.
For marine suppliers and distributors operating in Asia, this means that AkzoNobel's presence in the powder coatings sector, including specific applications for salty or wet environments, remains unchanged.
A structuring acquisition for JSW Paints
JSW, an industrial conglomerate with a sprawling presence, is gaining a firmer foothold in the decorative and industrial paints sector with this acquisition. By integrating AkzoNobel India, the Indian group gains not only market share but also know-how, thanks in particular to the Dulux brand, renowned for its performance on wood and metal substrates, including in nautical environments.
For shipyards based in India or working with local suppliers, this change in ownership could result in a reorganization of product ranges, a strengthening of local supply and, potentially, the relocation of certain production operations.
What are the implications for yachting professionals?
If AkzoNobel were to reposition itself in more technical, high value-added segments, this could have an impact on the shipyards, equipment manufacturers and repairers who use its marine coatings ranges, particularly in South Asia. On the other hand, the maintenance of R&D centers suggests that the development of innovative products for the marine sector remains on the agenda.
In France and Europe, specialist distributors, who already work with AkzoNobel for professional products (antifoulings, undercoats, finishes), should not be directly affected. In the medium term, however, JSW's rise to prominence in this region could reshuffle the cards in international tenders, particularly for major maintenance and refit programs.
