Editorial - August - September 2026

The on-going military conflict in the Middle East – mainly centered at the key chokepoint the Strait
of Hormuz – has severely disrupted global maritime transportation. Commercial shipping has been
forced into systemic rerouting, causing cascading economic and operational impacts across global
trade routes.
Besides crew safety, stranded assets, economic and operational impacts due to system rerouting,
the prolonged delays and uncertainties drastically accelerate marine asset corrosion by forcing
vessels, offshore platforms, and coastal infrastructure into prolonged static lay-up in one of the most
harsh, highly corrosive marine environments. The kind of cargo a vessel carries can also cause major
problems. For example, according to maritime consultancy Brookes Bell, the Hormuz crisis has
delayed many bulkers well past the safe time limit for storing sulfur in a steel hold, exposing ships to
risk of severe and rapid corrosion.
Water temperatures in the Gulf routinely exceed 35°C (95°F) alongside high salinity levels. High
surface temperatures and intense solar radiation degrade protective topcoats and anti-fouling
coatings, exposing underlying steel directly to oxygenated seawater. There is also the problem of
rapid biofouling accumulation; besides prolonged anchorage risks exhausting cathodic protection
systems ahead of schedule, leaving bare steel exposed.
We hope the conflict is resolved as early as possible so that the maritime movement can resume to
its normal levels at the earliest.
In this issue, our main focus is on high-temperature protective coatings. Originally dominated by
simple furnace and engine parts, the sector now features advanced formulations that combine
ceramic, silicone, and epoxy chemistries to withstand temperatures that exceed 1,000°C. Rapid
industrialization across developing economies and rising capital expenditure in petrochemical
processing infrastructure are anchoring this growth trajectory.
Due to India’s drive for infrastructure modernization and China’s petrochemical expansion, the Asia-
Pacific holds the highest share of the High Temperature Coatings Market, at over 44%. We try and
explore the various kinds of high temperature protective coatings and the new developments fueling
its growth. Besides this, we have all our regular columns and features to keep you updated on what’s
happening in the field of corrosion mitigation.