Betting on Brazil: Akzo Nobel and BASF open new facilities in Paulo to serve the non-stick and...

Things are heating up in Brazil, judging by recent plant openings from two of the industry's top coatings manufacturers.

During the same week in late March, Akzo Nobel opened a new non-stick coatings facility and BASF Coatings commissioned a new plant for its Suvinil architectural brand. Both sites are in Sao Paulo.

Why are BASF and Akzo Nobel banking on Brazil? According to Terry Knowles, senior research executive at London-based Information Research Limited (IRL), political changes and resolution of economic difficulties should spur medium-and long-term gro