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Paint and coatings raw materials in Saudi Arabia

Al Reed Commercial Company supplies thickeners and polymer additives to paint and coatings manufacturers in Saudi Arabia and the GCC. Our core paint product is Tylose HEC from SE Tylose of Germany, the cellulose thickener used in water-based emulsion paints. We have supplied paint makers in the Kingdom for decades.

HEC in water-based paint

Hydroxyethyl cellulose (HEC) is the most widely used thickener in emulsion paints. It builds in-can viscosity so the paint does not settle, gives the body and flow a painter expects from the brush or roller, holds water so the film levels before it dries, and helps colourants mix in evenly.

Because HEC is non-ionic it tolerates the salts, pigments and pH range of a typical emulsion paint well. It works alongside associative thickeners when a formulator wants more flow and less spatter at high shear.

Choosing a grade

Paint HEC is sold by viscosity class. High viscosity grades in the 100,000 mPa·s class give the most thickening per kilogram and suit economical interior matt paints. Lower viscosity grades are used where flow and levelling matter more.

Delayed solubility grades, which are surface treated, disperse in water without lumps and then thicken once the pH rises. That makes them easy to add at the start of the grind. Always compare a new grade against your current one in your own formulation, at the same dose, and check viscosity after 24 hours and after heat storage.

Typical HEC dose and how to add it

Emulsion paints commonly use 0.2 to 0.6% HEC on total formula weight, depending on the viscosity grade, the PVC and whether an associative thickener is also used. Add delayed solubility HEC to the water at the start of the grind, stir until dispersed, then raise the pH with your neutraliser to let it hydrate before adding pigments and fillers.

Texture coatings, skim coats and cementitious coatings

Many coatings plants also make powder products: texture finishes, wall putty, skim coats and cementitious waterproof coatings. These run on the same dry-mix chemistry as tile adhesives, a cellulose ether for water retention and workability and a redispersible polymer powder for adhesion and flexibility. See our pages on HPMC and RDP.

Why buy locally

A paint line that runs out of thickener stops. Holding stock in Saudi Arabia removes the import lead time from your planning, and a local supplier who has seen the same formulation problems in other plants can help when a batch behaves differently. Paint grade HEC is usually classified under HS heading 3912.39.

Frequently asked questions

Dosage figures on this page are typical starting points drawn from common industry practice. They are not a validated formula. Confirm every formulation by laboratory testing to the relevant standard. Updated 2026-09-28.