Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) Pipes Market Size, Share & Industry Analysis, By Product Type (Unplasticised PVC (UPVC), Chlorinated PVC (CPVC), and Others), By Component (Pipes and Fittings), By Application (Agricultural Irrigation, Municipal Water Supply & Drainage, Building Water Supply & Drainage, Municipal Gas, Electrical & Telecommunications, and Others), and Regional Forecast, 2024-2032

The global polyvinyl chloride (PVC) pipes market size was valued at USD 71.90 billion in 2023 and is expected to grow from USD 75.33 billion in 2024 to USD 112.05 billion by 2032 at a CAGR of 5.1% during the forecast period.

Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) pipes are widely used in piping applications due to their lightweight nature, cost-effectiveness, ease of installation, and durability. Their superior heat and electrical insulation characteristics have also contributed to their popularity. PVC pipes are resistant to rot, wear, and rust over time. They can also withstand intense shaking and extreme motion in earthquake-prone areas. The piping and fitting industry's main driver is the rapid urbanization of infrastructure globally. The market is driven by many factors, such as demand for more extensive and economical sewage lines, use of pipes in construction activities, infrastructure developments, and growth of the oil and & industry. In addition, many other industries, including mining and chemical, will likely drive the global Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) pipes market growth over the assessment period.

The COVID-19 outbreak negatively impacted the market owing to global lockdowns and the suspension of import-export activities. Additionally, travel restrictions and economic instability led to supply chain disruptions and delays in crucial industrial activities, thereby reducing sales in 2020. However, in the second half of 2020, the building & construction sector resumed its operations, thus reviving the Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) pipes market.

Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) Pipes Market Trends

Momentum Toward Urban Farming to Propel Market Expansion

According to the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization, city farming can assist in meeting the increasing food demand. For years, Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) pipes have been used for agricultural applications as they are relatively durable, weather-resistant, and offer exceptional chemical and mechanical properties. Without rusting, they can withstand contact with plants, nutrients, water, and fish excrements for decades, making them an ideal material for farming applications. Also, as per the European Council of Vinyl Manufacturers (ECVM), PVC can be recycled nearly 10 times without losing its physical and chemical properties. Also, it will not require any new material to regain its functional properties. As urban farming is gaining popularity, the use of Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) pipes is increasing due to the advantages mentioned above. Therefore, this factor will create remunerative opportunities in the market.

Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) Pipes Market Growth Factors

Increasing Adoption in Different Industries and Rising Replacement Demand to Drive Global Market

Plastic pipes have many advantages over traditional pipes made up of materials, such as iron and steel. The raw materials used in manufacturing plastic pipes are derivatives of crude oil, which means that the cost of plastic pipes is correlated to the crude oil price, making them cheaper than their substitutes. Various unique properties and low price have led to the substitution of metal pipes with plastic ones. Increase in the availability of raw materials (PVC, PE, and PPR) and the commissioning of new petrochemical facilities across the globe have supported the plastic pipes industry. Among plastic pipes, Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) pipes are the most popular ones and growing demand for these pipes from various applications is projected to fuel the market. Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) pipes have high inertness and are corrosion resistant, making them free from bio-film contamination that can breed bacteria. As a result, these pipes have emerged as a safe choice for the transportation of drinking water. Establishment of vast networks of water supply in rural areas is the one of the key driving factors identified in the market. In addition, the replacement of older pipes with plastic ones will create additional demand for these pipes over the assessment period.

RESTRAINING FACTORS

Hazards Associated with PVC Production and Lifecycle May Discourage Product Demand

The Healthy Child Healthy World organization claims that PVC is one of the most poisonous plastics. And yet, PVC is utilized in many products of daily use, including pipes, window frames, toys, bottles, blister packs, shoes, credit cards, and more. According to the Greenpeace organization, PVC poses critical threats to human health and the environment at some stage in each factor of its lifecycle. The association even believes that PVC is the most harmful plastic for the environment among all plastics.

Chlorine is an essential building block in PVC manufacturing, accounting for over one-third of chlorine consumption in the U.S. At the same time, it is the cause of many problems, such as CFCs, which destroy the ozone layer, the dioxin contamination at Love Canal, and PCBs and DDT pesticides. Due to the many adverse human health and environmental damages caused by PVC, its market may face stringent actions by environmental regulatory bodies, hampering its growth.

Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) Pipes Market Segmentation Analysis

By Product Type Analysis

Unplasticized PVC (UPVC) Segment to Hold Significant Share Owing to Its Longer Service Life

Based on type, the market is segmented into Unplasticized PVC (UPVC), Chlorinated PVC (CPVC), and others. The UPVC segment accounted for the largest global Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) pipes market share in 2023 and is projected to record a CAGR of 4.3% in terms of value. UPVC pipes are easy and economical solutions for water distribution for various purposes, such as residential, commercial, and industrial buildings. Owing to their many advantages over conventional piping systems and their efficacy in offering longer maintenance-free service life, they will maintain their dominance over other types.

Due to its excellent high-temperature corrosion resistance, the Chlorinated PVC (CPVC) segment is estimated to grow faster than the other product types. Though it shares many features and properties with PVC, its ability to bend, shape, and weld makes it suitable for tanks, scrubbers, and ventilation systems.

Other types include various modified Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) pipes, including soft, high impact, molecular oriented, and others. This segment will grow moderately during the forecast period owing to a limited application range, including buried non-potable applications, such as irrigation and sewer pumping systems.

By Component Analysis

Wide-ranging Uses in Various Applications Boosted Demand for Pipes

Based on component, the market is classified into pipes and fittings. The pipes segment accounted for a major share of the global market in 2023. Owing to their high utilization in agricultural irrigation and municipal & building water supply and drainage applications, pipes are set to maintain their dominance in the market during the forecast period. Pipes made from PVC are getting attention from many end users owing to their unique properties, driving their demand in the market.

By Application Analysis

Agricultural Irrigation Accounts for Major Market Share Owing to its Wide Application Range

Based on application, the market is classified into agricultural irrigation, municipal water supply & drainage, building water supply & drainage, municipal gas, electrical & telecommunications, and others. The agricultural irrigation segment has accounted for a significant share of the global PVC pipes market. Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) pipes have a wide application range in the agriculture industry, which includes groundwater harvesting via bore wells, drip irrigation & sprinkler lines, and universal water distribution channels.

Apart from agricultural applications, these pipes are utilized in municipal and building water supply and drainage applications. Both segments are major applications of Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) pipes and are projected to grow faster than others. In these applications, pipes made from PVC are generally used for water transport, drains, and vents connected to different buildings and equipment. In addition, they are used to manage waste in various places, such as commercial buildings and industrial areas, thereby driving the market growth during the forecast period.

REGIONAL INSIGHTS

Geographically, the market is studied across North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East & Africa.

The Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) pipes market size in Asia Pacific was valued at USD 41.94 billion in 2023. This region has been identified as the largest consumer due to the presence of leading economies, such as China and India. China is the leading country in Asia Pacific, and it also dominates the global market. The country is home to one of the largest agricultural areas, requiring a vast number of irrigation products, including PVC pipes, which dominate the pipe market in China’s agricultural irrigation. In addition, the nation’s construction industry has numerous infrastructure development projects that will create additional demand for pipes made from PVC for water supply and drainage applications.

Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) pipes can be recycled without losing their technical properties. Around 80,000 tons of PVC pipes are recycled annually in Europe via the VinylPlus program. This recyclate is used to fabricate new pipes and several different PVC products. Traceability and certification schemes for recyclates increase the product's reliability, surging its adoption among consumers. Such initiatives in the European countries are expected to drive the regional market at a CAGR of 4.3% during the forecast period.

According to the Vinyl Institute, over three-fourths of the newly installed sanitary sewer systems use Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) pipes in the U.S. and Canada. Also, in new water distribution pipes installed in the U.S. and Canada, more than 70% of pipes are made from PVC. Such huge adoption of PVC pipes will drive the North America market during the forecast period.

Latin America and the Middle East & Africa are projected to grow moderately during the assessment period. The Saudi Vision 2030 and other infrastructure development projects in Brazil and Mexico will assist the market’s growth in the respective regions.

List of Key Companies in Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) Pipes Market

Key Manufacturers Drive Growth through Strategic Expansions and Innovations

Asahi Yukizai Corporation, Astral Pipes, JM Eagle, Polyplastic Group, and Westlake Pipe & Fitting are identified as prominent manufacturers in the study of the global PVC pipes market. These key players have employed diverse strategies to enhance their presence in the industry. Among the notable tactics are increasing capacity, introducing production innovations, and making acquisitions. Westlake Corporation, Ajay Pipes, Raksha Pipes, and Arihant Polymers are engaged in several of the strategic activities outlined above.

LIST OF KEY COMPANIES PROFILED:

• Asahi Yukizai Corporation (Japan)


• Astral Pipes (India)


• Epco ltd. (U.K.)


• JM Eagle (U.S.)


• Molecor (Spain)


• Ningbo Qianxiang Huiya International Trade Co., Ltd. (China)


• Periplast (France)


• Polyplastic Group (Russia)


• Serene Plast (Turkey)


• Westlake Pipe & Fittings (U.S.)

KEY INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENTS:

• October 2023 – Raksha Pipes, a Shand Group of Industries subsidiary, announced plans to expand its production capacity for PVC, UPVC, and CPVC pipes by ten times. The company plans to expand its urban and rural presence to meet the robust increase in demand for their products.


• July 2022 – Arihant Polymers revealed that it planned to install a new PVC pipe production unit at the Chincholi Industrial Area in the Solapur district of Maharashtra.


• December 2021 – North American Pipe Corporation (NAPCO), a subsidiary of Westlake Chemical Corporation, launched a new molecular-oriented PVC (PVCO) pipe with a lower manufacturing carbon footprint than any other pipe material. This will allow the company to meet the growing demand for environmentally friendly products.


• September 2021 – Westlake acquired Dimex, a processor of post-industrial recycled plastic substances in the U.S. and supplier of recycled PVC and TPE compounds. Dimex produces sustainability-oriented customer products from recycled PVC, allowing Westlake to address the growing demand for sustainable products in the U.S.

REPORT COVERAGE

The research report provides a detailed market analysis and focuses on crucial aspects, such as leading companies, types, components, and applications. In addition, it provides quantitative data regarding volume and value, market analysis, research methodology for market data, insights into market trends, and highlights vital industry developments and competitive landscape. In addition to the above-mentioned factors, the report encompasses various factors that have contributed to the market's growth in recent years.

Report Scope & Segmentation