U.S. Pipe Demand

Pipe demand in the U.S. is projected to increase 2.4 percent annually to 16.7 billion feet in 2011. Steel pipe will exhibit the fastest growth due to opportunities in energy and potable water markets. Plastic pipe demand will expand at an average pace, stimulated by growing sewer and drain applications, as well as resin and processing improvements. Construction will account for more than half of all pipe use based on diverse drain, sewer, water distribution and other applications. Energy pipe will expand at the fastest pace due to continued natural gas and oil drilling and increased pipeline transmission construction activity. These and other trends are presented in Plastic & Competitive Pipe, a new study from The Freedonia Group, Inc., a Cleveland-based industry market research firm.

Plastic pipe will create demand for 11.1 billion pounds of resin and account for more than 40 percent of total pipe footage. Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) will account for 65 percent of all plastic pipe demand with growth stimulated 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 pipe.

Cast iron pipe demand will remain almost flat due to mature applications and competition from plastic pipe.

For more information, or to purchase a copy of the study, contact Corinne Gangloff, The Freedonia Group, Inc., 767 Beta Drive, Cleveland, OH 44143, 440-684-9600, Fax: 440-646- 0484, E-mail: pr@freedoniagroup.com, Web: www. freedoniagroup.com.