Thriving Under Pressure: Ceresana Analyzes the European Market for Plastic Pipes

KONSTANZ, Germany - Oct. 2, 2024 - PRLog -- Centrifugally cast, wound, or extruded: glass fiber-reinforced plastic pipes are particularly robust, heat-resistant, and durable. The latest, seventh edition of the Ceresana report on the European market for plastic pipes includes GRP pipes as a separate product category for the first time. Pipes made of fiber-reinforced composites, usually mixtures of glass fibers and thermosetting polyester or epoxy resins, are currently the market segment with the most dynamic growth. However, their costs and requirements are higher than those of pipes made of polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyethylene, polypropylene, or other thermoplastic materials: To date, GRP pipes only make up a relatively small proportion of the approximately 5 million tonnes of plastic pipes sold in Europe each year.

Plastic pipes for every water level

Extreme weather phenomena such as heavy rainfall or long dry spells are becoming more frequent in more and more regions. Market researchers at Ceresana therefore expect demand for maintenance-friendly plastic pipes for agricultural areas to increase by around 2.3% per year in the coming years. Many cities also need to adapt their water infrastructure to climate change. The energy transition also requires the expansion of pipelines: new wind farms and heat pumps are being connected and networks for district heating and cooling are being built. Expensive broadband cables must be shielded against harmful environmental influences. In terms of plastic pipe consumption, however, the cable protection application area has now fallen to third place behind agriculture and industrial pipes.

Construction industry facing difficult years

In the construction industry, plastics have overtaken the more traditional pipe materials of steel and concrete. The European construction industry is not expected to recover until 2026, apart from various Eastern European regions with better growth prospects. Numerous construction companies are complaining about high interest rates, rising costs for building materials, and ever more bureaucracy. In many countries, new construction projects are being delayed or abandoned despite the high demand for housing. Ceresana forecasts that the renovation segment will grow faster than new construction in the coming years. Commercial and infrastructure construction, such as logistics halls or data centers, usually perform better than residential construction. The market report on plastic pipes examines demand in the various segments of the construction industry separately for the first time.

Further information about the 7th edition of the market study "Plastic pipes – Europe": https://ceresana.com/en/produkt/plastic-pipes-market-repo...