AkzoNobel is strengthening its Performance Coatings business in Vietnam, doubling capacity for its powder coatings facility in Dong Nai and opening open a new office for performance coatings in Ho Chi Minh City.

The Dutch company is the largest paints and coatings producer in Vietnam, with four manufacturing locations for both decorative paints and performance coatings and employing more than 800 people.

The new production line in Dong Nai, which will go on stream in November with a 20% increase in its workforce, will also supply customers across Southeast Asia, India, Australia and New Zealand.

"Vietnam has proven to be a strategic market for AkzoNobel in Southeast Asia, and we are strongly committed to expanding our position," said Alan Alex, business manager for the company’s powder coatings business in Southern Asia. "With focused investment, we aim to sustain our high double-digit growth in the domestic market in Vietnam, as well as Southern Asia overall."

Conrad Keijzer, AkzoNobel's executive committee member responsible for Performance Coatings, added: "Vietnam is strongly emerging as a manufacturing base in Asia, which continues to be an attractive growth market. These investments ensure that we are well positioned to meet customer demand going forward."