JOTUN PAINTS SOUTH AFRICA: Powering Ahead as Southern Africa’s Protective Coatings Champion

From Cape Town to Durban, across offshore rigs and industrial assets onshore, Jotun Paints South Africa (Jotun SA) is more than just a supplier of coating products — it has become a trusted partner for asset protection. Drawing on the heritage of the global Jotun brand, the South African operation leverages world-class R&D, robust global supply chains and local manufacturing. That combination means customers get the same high-specification protective products here as they would in the UK, China or the USA — underpinned by the consistency and reliability that have long been Jotun’s calling card. Former MD Trevor Maughn put it plainly for Enterprise Africa in 2021: “We have a reputation as being a supplier of high-quality, high-performance products. We are not the cheapest in the market but our customers know they get high levels of product quality and great service value… We have a very strong corporate culture based on a strong set of values. Some of our competition have reduced operations in South Africa. We still have the benefits of global support with local activity.”

In South Africa, Jotun SA has resolutely focused away from decorative paints. Instead, the company zeroes in on industrial and marine protective coatings — a niche where quality, performance and long-term asset integrity count for everything. Given the complexity and cost of industrial assets in shipping, energy, infrastructure and heavy industry, the company’s consistent approach to global-spec manufacturing has paid off.

FINANCIAL HEALTH

When Maughn retired at the end of 2022, Martin Ibsen took over following highly successful leadership stints in various global markets. Jotun SA had already begun to press on assertively across key sectors. “We are growing and investing, and we intend on that continuing,” he told Enterprise Africa. The growth wasn’t blind — it was strategic, with clear ambitions in oil and gas (especially across Angola), mining, renewables, infrastructure and regional expansion across southern Africa. Ibsen also pointed to opportunities in Mozambique’s development pipeline — areas where Jotun’s global reach and technical depth could offer real value. “In the past four or five years, we have gained a significant portion of market share in the industry and we are one of the market leaders in terms of protective coatings in South Africa. We are still strong in the refinery business, and we are the market leader in shipping. We are very strong in the renewable energy sector as well as the infrastructure market – buildings, bridges etc. These remain our core focus right now.”

By mid-2024, the company was gearing up for a new phase. Ibsen again told Enterprise Africa of the company’s renewed goals: “We have ambitious growth plan. We are focusing on marine and protective products. We are continuing to develop new partnerships in the markets we serve. We also want to improve our footprint in South Africa.” Among the signs of renewed momentum was the planned introduction of a flooring-product series — a new vertical for Jotun in southern Africa, though a long-established line in regions such as the Middle East and Southeast Asia. 

That sense of strategic expansion is reinforced by the launch of new global-product lines now available for South Africa and beyond. 

Meanwhile, global-level financials at Jotun paint a reassuring picture. According to the group’s September 2025 release, operating revenue from January through August 2025 reached NOK 22,998 million — up 2% compared with the same period last year. Operating profit rose 3% to NOK 4,991 million. Pre-tax profit increased even more strongly, by 15%, to NOK 4,853 million. 

President and CEO, Morten Fon, said: “This was yet another strong performance, with all-time high sales and earnings both over the last four months and year to date. 2025 will be a good year for us.” Volume gains appear to be a key driver nowadays; Jotun reported a 7% increase in volume across all business segments and regions, a sign that demand remains robust even in challenging markets. 

NEW PRODUCTS, STRONG PIPELINE 

One of the most significant recent developments is the global rollout of Hardtop XP II, a next-generation topcoat launched by Jotun in September 2025. According to Jotun’s global release, Hardtop XP II builds on the legacy of the earlier Hardtop XP — which sold more than 300 million litres since its debut in 2006. Hardtop XP II brings tougher and more efficient performance to marine, infrastructure and energy projects. 

Dmitry Arzhanov, Global Category Manager for Topcoats, said: “We have rigorously tested Hardtop XP II across various climates and scenarios. The result is a topcoat that truly performs everywhere.” Key advances include faster curing times to slash downtime, increased initial hardness (boosting resistance to handling damage from day one), stronger protection against UV, chemicals, water and physical wear — and superior colour and gloss retention to maintain appearance over time. 

For heavy industry or marine environments — where exposure to salt, weather, chemical or mechanical stress is a constant challenge — those upgrades matter. Hardtop XP II is positioned as a top-coat that combines durability, application efficiency and long-term asset protection, whether on ship hulls, offshore installations or steel structures. 

Closer to home, the company has also been rolling out Jotamastic 85 — an anti-corrosion epoxy mastic primer that builds on more than three decades of Jotun’s corrosion-protection experience. According to Jotun’s product documentation, Jotamastic 85 offers robust and efficient multi-purpose anticorrosion performance, even on poorly prepared or flash-rust substrates. It gives excellent surface adhesion, tolerates fluctuating temperatures (from -5°C to +40°C), and can be applied by spray, brush or roller. With short drying and recoating intervals, it enables faster return-to-service — a significant advantage for maintenance and refit work where downtime is costly. Jotamastic 85 has undergone rigorous third-party tests (neutral salt spray, seawater immersion, cathodic disbondment), and carries certifications such as ISO 12944 (up to C5-H), IMO PSPC-WBT and ASTM standards — a crucial requirement for industrial and marine clients who must meet compliance standards.

Between globally-driven innovation (like Hardtop XP II) and locally relevant protective solutions (like Jotamastic 85), Jotun SA has built a broad and credible product pipeline. 

SA RELEVANCE  

For decision-makers in shipping, mining, energy, infrastructure and heavy industry in southern Africa, Jotun’s offering is compelling. The combination of local presence and global backing mitigates supply-chain uncertainty as much as possible and ensures consistent quality — vital in a region where delays or substandard materials can derail entire projects. Maughn and Ibsen were both insistent on international quality: “We manufacture to international specifications and we don’t change the recipe locally,” said Maughn. That global-local model underpins reliability, consistency and reassurance for large-scale industrial and marine projects.

Moreover, the arrival of Hardtop XP II and continued investment in products like Jotamastic 85 underlines Jotun’s commitment to evolving with customer needs. Faster curing, improved durability, and robust corrosion resistance are key differentiators in harsh African climates. For maintenance regimes on ships or industrial structures — or in major infrastructure projects where longevity matters — that can translate into lower total cost of ownership, fewer shutdowns, and extended asset life.

At the same time, Jotun SA’s ambition to broaden its footprint — in neighbouring markets like Namibia, Botswana and Madagascar, as well as explore opportunities in Mozambique’s infrastructure and mining development pipeline — suggests a company preparing for the region’s next wave of industrial growth. “We are continuing to develop new partnerships in the markets we serve,” said Ibsen.

POSITIONED FOR GROWTH

Jotun Paints South Africa now sits at a crossroads of promise. With strong global support, proven protective-coatings technology, and new products like Hardtop XP II and Jotamastic 85, the company is well placed to ride the wave of industrial expansion across southern Africa. Its strategy of local manufacturing allied with global specification ensures it can offer both reliability and scale — a combination increasingly rare in the coatings industry.

For clients in marine, energy, mining or infrastructure, sectors where asset integrity and longevity are critical, Jotun SA offers more than a product; it offers trust, performance, and long-term value. As one of the market leaders in protective coatings in South Africa, it is not just ready for the future, it is helping to build it.

For all these reasons, Jotun Paints South Africa remains, quite simply, an industry leader in protective coatings — locally and globally — perfectly positioned to protect Africa’s assets well into the next decade.