* Following the business transfer to the Wuthelam Group announced on August 10, 2021, the European automotive coatings business and the two India businesses were classified as discontinued operations. FY2021 figures represent continuing operations only, excluding discontinued operations. FY2020 figures have also been retrospectively restated under IFRS Accounting Standards.
For 145 years, we have grown as a leading paint and coatings company,
providing products worldwide that respond to changing social and environmental needs.
Nippon Paint Group is Asia's No.1 and the world's No.4 paint and coatings manufacturer by revenue. Over the 145 years since our founding, we have expanded our business by protecting automobiles, buildings, homes, bridges, trains, and many other assets through coatings, supporting the infrastructure of everyday life. In pursuit of our sole mission of Maximization of Shareholder Value (MSV), we aim to expand our global presence and achieve sustainable growth by addressing social challenges through innovations such as antibacterial, antiviral, and heat-shielding coatings.
Nippon Paint Group at a Glance
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History
145yearsNippon Paint Group marked the 145th anniversary of its founding on March 14, 2026. Our history began in 1881 with the founding of Komyosha, the predecessor of the Nippon Paint Group, in Mita, Tokyo.
Since then, we have overcome numerous challenges and grown into one of the world's leading paint and coatings manufacturers. -
FY2025 Revenue
JPY1,774.2bnIn 2025, revenue and operating profit both reached record highs, supported by earnings growth in our existing businesses and the contribution from the AOC acquisition. By combining organic and inorganic growth, we continue to pursue our sole mission of Maximization of Shareholder Value (MSV). -
Global Presence
48countries/regionsWe entered Singapore in 1962, marking the start of our expansion into global markets.
Since then, we have actively expanded our international operations and today operate in 48 countries and regions, primarily across Asia as well as Europe, the Americas, and Oceania. -
Employees
38,481employees* As of December 31, 2025
Nippon Paint Group has 38,481 employees worldwide, with more than 90% working outside Japan.
Across the world, colleagues with diverse nationalities, genders, ages, and backgrounds respect one another's values and work together in a spirit of mutual trust to deliver Nippon Paint products and services. -
Revenue Ranking
World No.4* Company estimate
Nippon Paint Group recorded revenue of JPY 1,774.2 billion in FY2025. Based on our estimates, we rank No.1 in Asia and No.4 globally in paint and coatings revenue.
As consolidation progresses in the global paint market, we are expanding into markets where we are not yet present as we seek to strengthen our position as a global paint major.
A Commitment to Solving Social Issues—The Spirit at the Heart of Our Founding
- 1879 (Meiji 12)
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Developed a technique for producing pure-white zinc oxide as a non-toxic alternative to the lead-based face powder that caused widespread lead poisoning in Japan.
A patent for the zinc oxide purification technique was granted in 1879.-
Founder Jujiro Moteki -
Patent for the zinc oxide purification technique
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- 1880 (Meiji 13)
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With Western-style paints at the time dependent on expensive imports, we began developing our own paint technology and completed Japan's first domestically produced Western-style paint.
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Japan's first domestically produced Western-style paint
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- 1881 (Meiji 14)
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Komyosha is founded as a cooperative association in Mita, Tokyo, marking the beginning of the Nippon Paint Group.
145 Years of History and Revenue Growth
Since our founding in 1881, we have expanded our business domains and geographic reach in response to changes in society and industry. The chart below shows the shift in our domestic and overseas revenue mix, while the timeline and 145th Anniversary Commemorative Series highlight key milestones in our history.
Revenue Trends
Expanding Revenue from Japan to the World
1,774.2JPY bnFY2025
Key Milestones
- 1962NIPSEA business launched
- 2014Transition to holding company structure
- 2019Betek Boya and DuluxGroup join the Group
- 2025AOC joins the Group
* Based on the attached Excel file “Revenue Data.” Overseas revenue is calculated as total revenue minus domestic revenue. Figures from 2020 onward are based on IFRS Accounting Standards; the new segment classification has been applied from 2021 onward.
145th Anniversary Commemorative Series
Explore Our History by Era
Timeline of the Nippon Paint Group
Key milestones from our 145-year history are organized by era below. For more detailed stories, explore the 145th Anniversary Commemorative Series above.
1881–1919
- 1881Komyosha, the predecessor of the Nippon Paint Group, is founded in Mita, Tokyo, by Jujiro Moteki.
- 1896Operations move to a new plant in Minami-Shinagawa, Tokyo (now the Tokyo Office).
- 1898Nippon Paint Manufacturing Co., Ltd. is established.
- 1899Hatsutaro Tasaka becomes the first President of the Company.
- 1903Wins first prize at the Fifth National Industrial Exhibition, held to promote industrial development.
- 1905Osaka Plant (now the Osaka Office) is completed.
- 1912Succeeds in domestic production of ship hull coatings and launches the product.
- 1915First overseas office is established in Shanghai.
- 1918DuluxGroup is founded (Australia).
- 1919Bollig & Kemper (now Nippon Paint Automotive Europe) is founded (Germany).
1920–1949
- 1925Dunn-Edwards is founded (USA).
- 1927Renamed Nippon Paint Co., Ltd.; paint factory is completed within the Osaka Plant.
- 1929Imperial envoy visits the Osaka Plant.
- 1931The head office is relocated to Osaka.
- 1933Nichiman Paint Co., Ltd. is established in Mukden, Manchuria.
- 1940Nippon Paint Coatings (Taiwan) Co., Ltd. is established.
- 1945Large parts of Tokyo Plant and Osaka Plant are destroyed in air raids.
- 1949Osaka Plant is restored.
1950–1969
- 1951“Pylox” spray paint for bus bodies and private railway car exteriors is launched.
- 1952“Vinilex” vinyl-based ship hull coating is launched.
- 1954New research institute is established at the head office in Osaka.
- 1962Pan Malaysia Paint Industries is jointly established in Singapore, marking the start of our NIPSEA (Nippon Paint Southeast Asia) business.
- 1965A technology partnership is signed with PPG in the United States / Nippon Liner Co., Ltd. is established.
- 1967Shinko Shoji Co., Ltd. (now Nippon Paint Marine Coatings Co., Ltd.) is established / Nippon Paint Thailand and Nippon Paint Malaysia are established.
- 1968Research Center is completed in Neyagawa, Osaka.
- 1969Tokyo Technology Center is completed / Nippon Paint Indonesia is established.
1970–1989
- 1970Participates in Japan World Exposition with a corporate pavilion.
- 1971Nippon Bee Chemical Co., Ltd. (now Nippon Paint Automotive Coatings Co., Ltd.) and Nippon Paint International Co., Ltd. (now Nippon Paint Materials Co., Ltd.) are established.
- 1974Nipsea Holdings International Limited, an overseas holding company, is established in Hong Kong.
- 1975America Nippon Paint Co., Ltd. is established.
- 1976Nippon Paint Philippines, Inc. is established.
- 1977A technology partnership is signed with International Paint (UK), and a new ship hull paint is developed in 1978.
- 1981Meiji Memorial Hall opens in Minami-Shinagawa, Tokyo, marking our 100th anniversary.
- 1984Okayama Plant is completed.
- 1986Color Design Center is established, launching a proactive, design-led approach to color solutions.
- 1989Nippon Paint Europe is founded in the United Kingdom as our regional headquarters in Europe.
1990–2009
- 1991Nippon Paint (Thailand) Co., Ltd. establishes a new powder coating plant.
- 1992Nippon Paint (China) Co., Ltd. is established.
- 1993Fukuoka Plant is completed.
- 1994Nippon Paint (Vietnam) Co., Ltd. and Nippon Paint (Guangdong) Co., Ltd. are established.
- 1995Nippon Paint (Suzhou) Co., Ltd. and Nippon Paint (Chongqing) Co., Ltd. are established.
- 1999Nippon Paint Industrial Coatings Co., Ltd. is established.
- 2002Nippon Paint Fine Coatings Co., Ltd. is established as a joint venture with Dainippon Ink and Chemicals, Incorporated (now DIC Corporation) / Guangzhou Nippon Paint Co., Ltd. is established.
- 2004Nippon Paint Marine Coatings Co., Ltd. receives a capital investment from the Wuthelam Group and embarks on global expansion under a new corporate structure.
- 2005Nippon Paint (Chengdu) Co., Ltd. is established in China as a joint venture for the manufacture of decorative paints.
- 2006NB Coatings, Inc. is established as our automotive coatings subsidiary in North America.
- 2009NIPSEA Management Company is established and begins providing management oversight and strategic guidance to Group companies.
2010–2025
- 2014The Company transitions to a holding company structure and is renamed Nippon Paint Holdings Co., Ltd., with the paint and coatings business transferred to the newly established Nippon Paint Co., Ltd. A strategic partnership is formed with the Wuthelam Group, and eight joint ventures and 38 affiliated companies are brought into the Group as consolidated subsidiaries.
- 2015Nippon Paint Co., Ltd. is split into four companies by business segment, and domestic subsidiaries and related companies associated with each business are integrated through mergers and other restructuring measures.
- 2016Bollig & Kemper (Germany) becomes a wholly-owned subsidiary.
- 2017Dunn-Edwards (USA) becomes a wholly-owned subsidiary.
- 2019Betek Boya (Türkiye) and DuluxGroup (Australia) join the Group.
- 2021Full integration of the Asia joint ventures with the Wuthelam Group is completed / Nippon Paint Corporate Solutions Co., Ltd. is newly established.
- 2022Cromology (France) and JUB (Slovenia) are acquired.
- 2024Alina (Kazakhstan) joins the Group.
- 2025AOC (USA) joins the Group.
Business Overview
Business Overview
Our global portfolio spans the Paint and Coatings Business—centered on automotive coatings and decorative paints—as well as the Adjacencies Business.
Learn moreRegional Overview
Regional Overview
With Asia as a core base, we operate in 48 countries and regions across Europe, the Americas, Oceania, and other markets.
Learn more
