CURRENT INDUSTRIAL REPORTS
MQ28F  -- PAINT, VARNISH, AND LACQUER

FIRST QUARTER 1996
MQ28F(96)-1

CONTACT: KIM CREDITO (301) 457-1606


 Table 1.  QUANTITY AND VALUE OF SHIPMENTS OF ARCHITECTURAL COATINGS, PRODUCT COATINGS OEM, AND SPECIAL PURPOSE COATINGS
                    1994-1996
                                                 (Quantity in thousands of gallons; value in thousands of dollars)
                                                               Architectural         Product coating    Special purpose
          Quarter and Year                    Total               coatings               OEM                coatings
                                      Quantity     Value    Quantity    Value    Quantity    Value    Quantity    Value

                1996
First quarter........................   310,977   3,787,763  170,978   1,551,058   95,782   1,535,366   44,217     701,339

                1995
     Total........................... 1,246,252  14,506,497  677,836   6,125,687  382,112   5,482,748  186,304   2,898,062
Fourth quarter.......................   283,694   3,444,640  146,648   1,374,638   92,337   1,340,051   44,709     729,951
Third quarter........................   331,885   3,839,963  185,630   1,701,285   96,688   1,382,252   49,567     756,426
Second quarter.......................   340,661   3,863,658  192,724   1,728,948   96,495   1,375,375   51,442     759,335
First quarter 1).....................   290,012   3,358,236  152,834   1,320,816   96,592   1,385,070   40,586     652,350

               1994 1)
     Total........................... 1,220,835  14,070,075  645,174   5,912,740  382,065   5,082,635  193,596   3,074,700
Fourth quarter.......................   274,073   3,281,989  137,205   1,262,624   95,736   1,283,750   41,132     735,615
Third quarter........................   332,560   3,781,599  185,156   1,697,295   97,112   1,277,649   50,292     806,655
Second quarter.......................   341,485   3,862,760  186,382   1,721,543   97,685   1,287,817   57,418     853,400
First quarter .......................   272,717   3,143,727  136,431   1,231,278   91,532   1,233,419   44,754     679,030


   1)  Data are revised based on Current Industrial Reports Series, MA28F(94)-1, Paint and Allied Products, issued July 1995.

Address inquiries concerning these figures to U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census, Manufacturing and Construction Division, Washington, D.C. 20233,
or call Kim Credito, (301)457-1606.

Table 2. SHIPMENTS, EXPORTS, IMPORTS, AND APPARENT CONSUMPTION OF PAINT, VARNISH AND LACQUER, BY QUARTER:
         1996 AND 1995

                                     (Quantity in thousands of gallons; value in thousands of dollars)
                                                   Exports of        Percent exports
          Quarter and year           Manufacture    domestic          to manufactur-       Imports for           Apparent
                                      shipments   merchandise        ers' production     consumption 2        consumption 4
                            Quantity    Value   Quantity Value      Quantity Value     Quantity Value 3   Quantity        Value

           1996

First quarter..............  310,977  3,787,763   (NA)    (NA)        (NA)    (NA)       (NA)      (NA)       (NA)         (NA)

           1995

       Total...............1,246,252 14,506,497   (NA)  789,825       (NA)     5.4       (NA)   300,403       (NA)   14,017,075
Fourth quarter.............  283,694  3,444,640   (NA)  195,274       (NA)     5.7       (NA)    68,638       (NA)    3,318,004
Third quarter..............  331,885  3,839,963   (NA)  201,647       (NA)     5.3       (NA)    86,516       (NA)    3,724,832
Second quarter.............  340,661  3,863,658   (NA)  206,502       (NA)     5.3       (NA)    87,610       (NA)    3,744,766
First quarter..............  290,012  3,358,236   (NA)  186,402       (NA)     5.6       (NA)    57,639       (NA)    3,229,473

    (NA) Not available.

    1 Source: Bureau of the Census report EM 545, U.S. Exports.
    2 Source: Bureau of the Census report IM 145, U.S. Imports for Consumption.
    3 This dollar value represents the c.i.f. (cost, insurance, and freight) value at first port of entry in the United States plus U.S. import duties.
    4 Apparent consumption is equal to domestic shipments, plus imports, minus exports.