JAT Holdings PLC has successfully concluded the second phase of expanding its binder manufacturing plant in Sri Lanka. The facility is now fully operational, boosting production capacity by 76% to support the Group’s growth ambitions in its emulsions and coatings portfolio in both domestic and regional markets.
Binders are a crucial raw material in emulsion and industrial coatings. Previously, the binder facility primarily focused on exterior wood coating requirements. However, the expanded capacity now enhances JAT’s ability to cater to the interior wood coating segment, broadening its manufacturing capabilities across key product lines. By increasing local production, the company also reduces reliance on imported intermediates, thereby strengthening oversight of a key input within the value chain.
In the face of global volatility in freight, energy, and currency markets, manufacturing margins remain under pressure. By augmenting in-house binder production, JAT improves cost predictability and minimizes exposure to foreign exchange fluctuations and external supply chain disruptions.
The upgraded facility not only increases output but also incorporates process enhancements that boost efficiency and production consistency. This aligns with the Group’s ability to scale operations responsibly while maintaining product performance standards across its decorative and industrial segments.
As JAT evolves into a Sri Lankan multinational industrial group, enhancing manufacturing capabilities across its operations is central to its strategy. In addition to its binder operations in Sri Lanka, the Group operates an Alkyd Resin manufacturing facility in Bangladesh, reinforcing backward integration across multiple input streams. These investments reflect a consistent approach to building industrial depth within JAT’s operational markets.
CEO Nishal Ferdinando commented on the development, stating, “Sustainable growth in manufacturing is built on capability and control. Expanding our binder plant strengthens oversight of a critical input within our coatings value chain and improves cost stability in a volatile global environment.”
Ferdinando added, “This continued investment in capacity enhancement reflects our confidence in sustained demand across our portfolio and reinforces our philosophy of disciplined capital deployment. We are building capability that strengthens our industrial base, supports margin resilience, and positions the Group to scale responsibly across markets.”
The expansion aligns with the Group’s sustainability priorities by reducing reliance on long-distance transport of intermediates and improving integration efficiencies within the manufacturing network.
With the binder plant now operating at expanded capacity, JAT further consolidates its vertically integrated model, building industrial capability in Sri Lanka to support sustained domestic growth and its expanding international presence.
