Plast ic pipes
Comprehensive study on the European
plastic pipes market
Pipes made of plastics are becoming
more popular in all sectors. They
have important advantages compared
to those made from other materials
such as aluminium, concrete, cast iron,
copper and steel. Due to their low
weight, their resistance to corrosive
effects and chemicals, and their simple
handling such as trenchless installation,
their importance in all application areas
is increasing. Market research institute
Ceresana expects revenues generated
with plastic pipes in Europe to amount
to approximately €12.7 billion in 2020.
The importance that various application
areas have for individual types of pipe
varies considerably. For example,
pipes made of polyvinyl chloride (PVC)
are relatively cheap and are used
extensively in the sewage, potable
water and cable protection sectors.
While pipes based on polypropylene
and polyethylene are still in the process
of challenging the dominance of PVC
pipes in potable water supply, they
are already playing a notable part
in both gas supply and in industrial
applications.
The utilisation of other plastics, such
as polybutylene, polyamide and
acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene,
is
likely to become more widespread.
“We expect demand to increase by,
on average, 2.7% pa during the next
eight years,” explained Oliver Kutsch,
CEO of Ceresana. “Among others,
these pipes are used for speciality
applications such as ceiling cooling,
compressed air systems, heating
installations as well as the construction
of automobiles and naval vessels
and other industrial processes.” The
utilisation of composite pipes (eg PE-X
and aluminium) offers the chance to
optimise specific properties of pipes.
According to Ceresana, the most
important sales market for plastic
pipes is Germany, which accounted
for 13.5 per cent of total European
consumption in 2012. Russia ranked
second, followed by Turkey, France
and Italy. In the past, many Eastern
European countries were able to profit
from the highly dynamic development
of important sales markets for
plastic pipes. Currently, however, the
construction sector in many European
countries is suffering from a crisis.
Plastic pipes are able to profit from
substitution effects nonetheless, at
the expense of other materials. For
example, pipes made from metal or
concrete are replaced by plastic, as
the material offers superior properties
and processing options. In addition,
the rising price of raw materials such as
steel or copper plays an essential role
in the substitution process.
In the relatively saturated markets in
Western Europe, demand for high-
quality pipes made of polyethylene
and polypropylene in particular
is increasing, while the demand for
PVC pipes is expected to develop at
only very modest rates. Growth rates
recorded on the market for plastic pipes
during the boom of the construction
sector prior to the economic crisis
will not be reached again in Western
European countries.
The situation varies when examining
individual European countries. While a
positive development is expected for
Denmark, Germany and Switzerland, a
number of southern European countries
such as Greece and Spain are unlikely
to recover in the near future.
Ceresana’s study, which is available
from the company’s website, includes
chapters on the development of
revenues generated with plastic pipes
in 30 European countries; analysis of the
development in individual sales markets
for plastic pipes; data regarding demand
for various materials; and profiles of the
largest manufacturers.
Ceresana
– Germany
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March 2014 Tube Products International
109
