US plastic pipe demand to reach 11.1bn lb in 2011

23 May 2007 23:02  [Source: ICIS news]

HOUSTON (ICIS news)--Demand for US plastic pipe will rise 3.2% annually to 11.1bn lb in 2011, a Cleveland-based industry market research firm source said on Wednesday.

Demand in 2011 for plastic pipe will have a projected value of some $12.3bn, including resins, additives, processing and other costs, the firm said.

“Fueling plastic-pipe growth will be plastic’s light weight, corrosion resistance, long service life and lower installed costs than competitive materials such as concrete, steel, cast iron and clay,” said a study from the Freedonia Group.

Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) pipe is the leading pipe resin in potable water, drain and sewer and the drain/waste/vent markets. The study predicts that demand for PVC pipe will reach 7.20bn lb in 2011, accounting for 65% of all plastic pipe resin, according to the study.

Better growth is expected for high density polyethylene (HDPE) as a result of greater opportunities in conduit, corrugated pipe, and gas and water distribution, according to the study. Also, HDPE has greater flexibility than PVC and is available in long coiled lengths. The Freedonia Group expects demand to reach 3.18bn lb in 2011.

Acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) pipe will exhibit the slowest growth due to cost disadvantages compared with PVC. ABS demand in 2011 is anticipated at 150m lb, according to the study.

Plastic pipe demand was 6.48bn lb in 1996 and rose to 9.48bn lb in 2006, said Freedonia.
By: Ron Coifman
+1 713 525 2653

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