SHERWIN-WILLIAMS ENDS JAMAICAN MANUFACTURING

SHERWIN-WILLIAMS has called time on more than half a century of paint manufacturing in Jamaica, ending production at its White Marl factory and shifting to imports to supply products that have long rolled off its production lines in St Catherine. The US paint and coatings giant confirmed to the Jamaica Observer that July 31 was its final day of manufacturing at the facility, ending a production run that began in 1974 and at one point included a full range of automotive, decorative and industrial finishes. Long-standing products including Kem Flat, Kem Gloss, Kem Low Sheen, and Sherwil Special were among those produced at White Marl.

Sherwin-Williams said products previously manufactured there will now be made at other facilities within its international network and imported into Jamaica. The company, however, declined to say where that production is being moved, leaving unanswered whether Jamaica will be supplied from North America, Latin America or a combination of plants within its global network. It also did not clarify whether all the familiar product lines produced at White Marl will continue to be sold locally.

“Sherwin-Williams confirms that manufacturing operations at its St Catherine facility permanently concluded on July 31, 2026,” the company said in response to questions from the Business Observer. “Products previously manufactured at St Catherine will be produced at other Sherwin-Williams manufacturing locations and imported into Jamaica, then distributed through our established local supply chain network to Sherwin-Williams stores and other retailers across the island.” The decision effectively reverses a journey that began more than five decades ago when Sherwin-Williams moved beyond importing and distributing paint in Jamaica and invested in local production. The company entered Jamaica in the 1960s as a marketing operation, importing products for sale locally and through dealers across the Caribbean.

It established the White Marl factory in 1972 and formally began production in 1974. By 2023, Sherwin-Williams was outlining plans to expand its Jamaican business and sharpening its position against competitors such as Berger, BH and EdgeChem. At the time, the Business Observer reported that the company had been recording double-digit growth over the previous five years and was continuing to invest in its retail network.