American Coatings Show 2026: A Market Looking Over Its Shoulder

The American Coatings Show 2026, held May 5–7 in Indianapolis, offered more than a broad view of the coatings value chain. For Jennifer Hawkins at ResourceWise, it provided a valuable opportunity to speak directly with buyers, distributors, producers, and formulators and to hear how epoxy resins market participants are navigating a rapidly shifting supply and cost environment.

Those conversations took place against the backdrop of a busy and wide-ranging show. More than 450 exhibitors filled 136,600 square feet, covering raw materials, additives, production and testing equipment, automation tools, digital technologies, and sustainability advancements. The event drew more than 8,000 participants from 63 countries and featured around 100 technical presentations, reinforcing its role as a key meeting point for the North American coatings industry.

Conversations with epoxy resins buyers, distributors, producers, and formulators delivered a clear message: while the show floor was busy and innovation was visible at every turn, supply security remained center stage for the epoxy resins industry.

The mood was not one of panic, but it was certainly alert. Producers and distributors described U.S. and European epoxy resin markets that continue to tighten, amid logistics uncertainty, raw material cost pressure, and concerns around the Strait of Hormuz. Several participants suggested that, even if trade flows were to normalize, supply chains may not rebalance until the first half of next year.

Large coatings buyers generally sounded more comfortable, which was not especially surprising. Participants pointed out that in tighter markets, larger customers often sit closer to the front of the allocation queue, while small and medium-sized buyers may feel the strain more directly, especially if prompt volumes become harder to secure. As one market participant put it, material may still be available, but not always easily, quickly, or at a price every buyer can afford.

This has shaped purchasing behavior. Prebuying ramped up in March and gathered pace through April as buyers looked ahead to summer demand and sought to protect their supply positions. By early May, views were mixed. Some participants reported a slowdown, while others said buyers remained focused on securing volume because availability, rather than price, had become the first question. Offers from Korean suppliers have been declined, as buyers report a strong preference for domestic supply to ensure steady volume availability and greater pricing reliability.

Demand, however, remains difficult to read. Seasonal coatings demand has supported activity in some infrastructure-related applications, but underlying demand has not strengthened evenly. Automotive and broader construction demand remained subdued. This has raised concerns that current buying may partly reflect inventory protection rather than a durable recovery. That distinction matters. If buying is being driven mainly by inventory protection rather than stronger end-use consumption, the market could look very different once prebuying runs its course.

Rising prices across the coatings value chain are another pressure point. Higher raw material costs have supported upward price movement, but the ability to pass those increases downstream varies sharply by sector. Some customers can recover costs from their own buyers, while others—particularly those tied to longer-term contracts—are facing greater resistance.

Taken together, the conversations in Indianapolis pointed to a market walking a careful line. Buyers want cover, producers want commitment, and everyone is trying to judge how long the current demand will last. Comparisons with 2021 and 2022 came up more than once, but today's backdrop is different. Demand is more fragile, and the risk of demand destruction is real if costs rise beyond what downstream sectors can absorb.

Overall, the American Coatings Show offered more than a showcase of innovation and technical development. It provided a timely snapshot of a coatings industry balancing seasonal demand, supply chain caution, feedstock uncertainty, and rising cost pressure. For epoxy resins, the message was clear: availability, reliability, and flexibility are again becoming central to market strategy.

The next American Coatings Show will be held at the Colorado Convention Center in Denver, Colorado, March 28–30, 2028.