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Focusing on specialization and high-end development in specific industrial sectors: From April 15th to 16th, the 2026 Coatings Conference, organized by the China Coatings Industry Association, was held in Mingguang City, Anhui Province. At the meeting, several industry experts stated that the coatings sector is undergoing a profound structural transformation. During the 15th Five-Year Plan period, the development of this industry should focus on specialization and high-end development in various industrial sub-sectors, achieving a significant shift from expansion in scale to improvement in quality. “The coatings industry is undergoing a profound structural transformation, with the share of architectural coatings declining while the share of industrial coatings rising. The future development direction of the industry should focus on the specialization and high-end development of specific industrial sub-sectors. ”Liu Jie, secretary-general of the Coatings Association, pointed out that improving quality and efficiency will be the key driver for the coatings industry to break through the bottlenecks of intense competition and homogenization. “\"Innovation competition\" means competing in terms of quality, service, and technology, rather than just on price; in particular, it is not acceptable to engage in price competition by reducing product quality. Industry enterprises should continuously improve product performance and expand application scenarios by increasing R&D investment, improving manufacturing processes, and implementing refined management practices, in order to meet market demands and enhance their competitiveness. Qu Hui, director of the Industry Development Department at the China Petroleum and Chemical Industry Federation, believes that during the 15th Five-Year Plan period, the industry will face pressures such as adjustments in the downstream market and increased competition, but it will also encounter significant opportunities in areas such as green and low-carbon development, technological innovation, and industrial upgrading. In response, he put forward four suggestions for development: first, maintain confidence, integrate into the **overall development framework, and tap into market potential ； Second, adhere to green development and establish a full-chain green production system ； Third, strengthen innovation-driven development, break through in core materials, and promote the integration of industry, academia, and research as well as digital applications ； Fourth, strengthen collaborative efforts; enterprises at various stages of the supply chain should work together to address common challenges, while industry associations should play a bridging role in creating an environment of fair competition. Yang Chuanwei, deputy director of the Chemicals Division in Sinopec’s Joint Industry Development Department, noted that the changing demand from society for products in the petrochemical industry is shifting from a focus on bulk petrochemical products and basic chemical raw materials to a greater demand for new chemical materials and high-end specialty fine chemicals, including high-performance coatings. Therefore, greening, intelligentization, and high-end transformation and upgrading will be the mainstream development trends for traditional industries such as coatings during the 15th Five-Year Plan period and for an even longer time to come. “From the perspective of industry enterprises, we are at a critical juncture where periods of hardship and opportunities overlap. The deep adjustment in the downstream real estate market has led to weak consumer demand, and competition among companies in this industry remains fierce. Although the industry is facing internal and external pressures, there are opportunities in these challenges; the market for urban renewal remains vast, and there is a growing demand for domestic substitution in industrial management as well as high-end equipment. This is precisely the perfect time for us to break through and make changes. ”Fang Guoqin, Secretary of the Party Committee of Sanke Tree Coatings Co., Ltd., said. At the meeting, Lu Haitao, a member of the Mingguang Municipal Party Committee and vice mayor of the municipal government, who served as one of the co-organizers of the conference, gave an introduction to Mingguang’s business environment ； Kui Taijiang, chairman of the Technical Experts Working Committee of the Coatings Association, interpreted the \"Review of the Development of China’s Coatings Industry during the 14th Five-Year Plan Period and Guidelines for Development during the 15th Five-Year Plan Period\" (draft) ； Han Enhou, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, delivered a keynote speech on the research progress and trends of advanced multifunctional coatings. The meeting also featured events such as the launch ceremony of the “100 Index” for enterprises in China’s coating industry, and the release ceremony of the “Declaration Against Competitive Degradation in the Coating Industry”.