Drilling will drive strong gains in U.S. plastic pipe industry: study

Demand in the U.S. for pipe is expected to rise 7.3 per cent per year to US$63.5 billion in 2018, driven by strong growth in crude oil and natural gas drilling activity, according to a new study from market research firm The Freedonia Group.

“Demand for plastic pipe is anticipated to rise at the most rapid pace of all materials,” the report said. “Growth will be spurred by the increasing use of plastic pipe at the expense of such materials as steel and concrete.  Plastic pipe offers many performance advantages, such as moderate cost, ease of installation, long service life, and corrosion resistance.”  

In building construction applications, the study also noted, increasing housing completions and strong interest in kitchen and bathroom renovation projects will boost demand for drain, waste, and vent pipe, while growth in nonresidential building construction will spur demand for conduit.

The new study, called “Plastic & Competitive Pipe”, examines the U.S. pipe industry, with particular emphasis on five types of plastic pipe: PVC, HDPE, fibreglass, ABS, and CPVC.