The world demand for plastic pipes is projected to rise by 6.7 per cent per annum to reach 19.3 billion metres in 2019, according to World Plastic Pipe, a new study from The Freedonia Group, a Cleveland-based industry research firm.

Strong growth of construction activity, particularly in the large markets of China and the US, will boost the demand for plastic pipes in both building and non-building construction applications, said the study.  

Plastic’s performance, cost, and installation advantages will also spur its increasing use over competing pipe materials such as concrete, copper, and steel, it added.

Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) is the leading resin used in plastic pipes.

The energy, agriculture, and industrial sectors are less intensive users of plastic pipes in comparison to the construction sector.  However, improvements in technology and plastic materials have helped plastic pipes increase its share in many of these markets, it said.

Although construction spending will decelerate in China, the world’s largest plastic pipe market, demand for plastic pipes in the country will still rise over nine per cent annually through 2019, it further added.  

In the US, the world’s second largest market, continuing recovery in construction spending and housing completions will support rapid advances for plastic pipe demand.  

Growth in plastic pipe demand will also be robust in the developing countries of Africa, Asia, and South America due to efforts to expand access to potable water and sewage systems.

According to analyst Mariel Behnke: “The market opportunity for water and sewer systems is large, as a considerable share of the population in these regions does not have reliable access to drinking water supply or improved sanitation.”  

The comparatively low cost and ease of installation of plastic pipes gives it advantage over other pipe materials in these regions.  

Advances in plastic pipes demand in the more developed regions of Eastern and Western Europe are expected to accelerate through 2019, supported by recovering construction spending.

Demand in both regions contracted following the global economic recession, but began to recover in 2013, it added. – TradeArabia News Service