TPi July 2009

news business & market

Despite a weak current construction environment, pipe demand is expected to turn around and grow 2% annually to 11.1 billion ft in 2013. Stimulants include renewed activity in the construction sector, the growing obsolescence of sewer and drainage systems, and the need to upgrade municipal water systems. Plastic pipe will advance at the fastest pace. Construction and energy markets will provide the best market opportunities, together accounting for nearly two-thirds of total pipe use in 2013. These and other trends are presented in Plastic & Competitive Pipe, a new study from The Freedonia Group, Inc, a Cleveland-based industry research firm. Demand for plastic pipe will advance 2.3% yearly to 5 billion ft in 2013, creating demand for 9.2 billion pounds of resin. Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) pipe will remain dominant and be driven by improved joining technologies and resins such as molecularly oriented PVC. High density polyethylene pipe will exhibit the fastest plastic pipe growth based on opportunities in potable water and corrugated drain and sewer applications. Demand for reinforced thermosets and acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene resins will expand at a below average pace due to mature markets and more specialised applications. Copper pipe demand is forecast to grow 1.9% annually through 2013, paced by opportunities in service and distribution pipe. Demand for steel pipe will grow at a slowpace through2013, withabove aver- age growth anticipated in gas and oil pipe. Aluminium pipe demand advances will result from opportunities in motor vehicle and refrigeration equipment uses. Demand for concrete pipe will rebound and expand 2% per year through 2013 to 180 million ft, driven by drain and storm sewer applications. More favourable raw material pricing will also contribute to pipe growth. Pipe demand forecast

experience renewed growth after ten years of declines. Fastest growth is anticipated for drain pipe in light of renewed construction activity and needs to renovate obsolete and overloaded pipe networks. Plastic & Competitive Pipe (published 04/2009, 314 pages) is available for $4,800 from The Freedonia Group, Inc. The Freedonia Group, Inc – USA pr@freedoniagroup.com www.freedoniagroup.com

will remain the leading pipe market through 2013, followed by potable water and conduit. Refrigeration tubing advances will be driven by rebounding refrigeration equipment shipments, with further gains threatened by continued declines in commercial refrigeration manufacturing. Potable water pipe demand will expand as the building construction market recovers. Conduit demand will also

Structural, mechanical and miscel- laneous uses, led by refrigeration tubing,

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July 2009 Tube Products International