Plastic pipes and fittings: Deep Integration of Scenarios and Materials

Plastic pipes and fittings, with characteristics such as corrosion resistance, light weight, and easy installation, are widely used in various fields including construction, municipal engineering, agriculture, and industry, becoming an indispensable material for modern infrastructure construction. The global plastic pipe fittings industry is accelerating its integration, and the market size is expected to exceed 90 billion USD by 2025. China, as an important market, contributes 40% of the total.

Environmental policy strengthened:

In China, the strict implementation of the "Emission Standards of Pollutants for Synthetic Resin Industry" mandates a reduction in energy consumption and emissions of waste gas and wastewater during the production process. Under these circumstances, companies must increase investment in environmental protection and develop green production processes, such as using lead-free formulations for PVC pipe production and optimizing injection molding processes to reduce waste generation, thereby promoting the industry's transformation and upgrade towards a green and sustainable direction. For example, the Quanzhou Nan'an Ecology and Environment Bureau approved in July a project with an annual output of 4,000 tons of pipe materials, requiring that waste gas emissions comply with more stringent local standards. The upgrade of the EU REACH regulation strictly limits the use of plasticizers, forcing companies to adopt lead-free formulations, thereby increasing production costs.

Infrastructure policy support:

The "14th Five-Year Plan" in China requires that the leakage rate of urban water supply networks be reduced to below 8% by 2025. Traditional metal pipes are prone to corrosion and leakage, whereas plastic pipes have significant advantages in extending the service life of networks and reducing leakage rates. This has prompted municipal projects to accelerate the adoption of new plastic pipes and fittings for network renovation and new construction. For example, in July, the Nanchang Railway Bureau's Gutian Base Project procured over 2,000 meters of HDPE double-wall corrugated pipes and other materials. With the country's ongoing investment in infrastructure, the demand for network renovation in urban gas, water supply and drainage, and heating over the next five years is expected to reach 4 trillion yuan, and the application proportion of plastic pipes is expected to further increase.

In the first half of the year, the renovation of 16,500 old residential communities began, with the start rate in six provinces, including Hebei and Liaoning, exceeding 80%. According to the national plan, by 2025, there is a plan to start the renovation of 25,000 old urban residential communities nationwide. As this goal continues to advance, it will significantly drive the demand for construction drainage pipe materials.

• Corrosion-resistant, aging-resistant

  It does not react with chemical substances such as acids, bases, and salts. Its service life can reach more than 50 years in environments such as humidity and soil burial (far exceeding the 10-15 years of galvanized steel pipes), making it particularly suitable for corrosive scenarios such as chemical industry and municipal sewage.

• Lightweight and easy to install

  The density is only 1/8-1/5 that of metal pipes (e.g., PVC pipe density is 1.3g/cm³, steel pipe is 7.8g/cm³), so they can be manually handled without heavy machinery. There are various connection methods (such as hot melt, adhesive bonding, and socket fitting), and the installation efficiency is improved by 30%-50% compared to metal pipes.

• Low fluid resistance

  The inner wall is smooth (roughness coefficient 0.008-0.01, metal pipe 0.02-0.03), with water flow resistance 20%-30% lower than that of steel pipes, which can reduce pump energy consumption and is suitable for long-distance water transportation.

• Cost controllable

  The raw material and processing costs are lower than those of stainless steel and copper pipes (for example, the unit price of PPR pipes is about 1/3 of that of copper pipes), and the maintenance costs are low (no rust, no need for regular anti-corrosion treatment).

(1) Municipal Engineering

Water supply and drainage pipelines: PVC-U pipes (drainage pipes), due to their acid and alkali resistance and low cost, are used in urban sewage networks and rainwater discharge (such as the underground utility tunnel project in Beijing's sub-center). PE water pipes (HDPE), due to their hygiene compliance (meeting GB/T 13663 standards), are used for municipal water supply (more than 70% of newly built water plants nationwide adopt them).

燃气输送：中密度 PE 管（MDPE）因柔韧性好、抗渗透，用于低压燃气管道（压力≤0.4MPa），在长三角农村 “煤改气” 项目中占比超 80%。

(2) Construction Engineering

Home Decoration Pipes: PPR pipes (hot water pipes), due to their high temperature resistance and odorless properties, are used for household hot and cold water pipes (such as the standard configuration in Vanke's finely decorated houses); PVC electrical conduits, due to their good insulation and B1 fire rating, are used for electrical wiring in buildings.

(3) Agriculture and Water Conservancy

Agricultural Irrigation: PE pipes (LDPE) are highly flexible and can be installed underground or on the surface, suitable for drip and sprinkler irrigation systems. In Xinjiang cotton field irrigation projects, they have a lifespan of over 15 years and improve water-saving efficiency by 30% compared to traditional channels.

Water Conservancy Project: HDPE double-wall corrugated pipe (with a ring stiffness of ≥8kN/m²) has strong settlement resistance and is used for farmland drainage and river dredging (such as the South-to-North Water Diversion supporting project).

Drainage system: PVC spiral silent pipes (with inner wall spiral structure) can reduce drainage noise to below 45 decibels (15% better than the national standard), suitable for places with high requirements for silence such as hotels and hospitals (e.g., Shanghai Pudong International Airport Terminal).

(4) Industrial Sector

Chemical transportation: PVC-C (Chlorinated Polyvinyl Chloride) pipes can withstand temperatures up to 100°C and have better corrosion resistance than PVC-U, making them suitable for transporting media such as hydrochloric acid and sulfuric acid (e.g., in a chemical park acid-base pipeline renovation project).

Mining Engineering: PE solid wall pipe impact resistance (capable of withstanding a 10kg object dropped from a height of 2m without cracking) is used for mine tailings transportation. In the Shanxi coal mine project, it replaces steel pipes, reducing costs by 40%.

5. Special Scenarios

Underfloor heating system: PE-RT pipes (heat-resistant polyethylene) withstand temperatures from -40℃ to 80℃, are flexible, and can be coiled for transportation. They account for over 90% of underfloor heating installations in northern home renovations (such as underfloor heating projects in finished apartments in Shenyang).

Marine Engineering: HDPE pipes are resistant to seawater corrosion and are used for freshwater transportation to islands (such as the water supply pipeline in Sansha City, Hainan). They show no aging in a salt fog environment for 5 years.

1. China Lesso

Core Advantages: One of the world's largest plastic pipe manufacturers, with over 1,500 patents covering a full range of PVC, PE, and PPR products. Its "Termite-Resistant Composite Protective PE Gas Pipe" has reached an international leading level, achieving a leak warning accuracy rate of 98.7% in the underground utility tunnel project in Xiong'an New Area.

Market Performance: By 2025, the brand value will exceed 50 billion yuan, maintaining the number one market share in the municipal sector. The overseas market covers regions such as India and Southeast Asia, with a 30% market share in India BIS certification.

Technical Highlights: Photovoltaic hydrogen production combined with carbon capture technology promotes carbon neutrality on the production side, with a recyclable material usage rate of up to 90%, aligning with the National Development and Reform Commission's circular economy requirements.

2. ERA============

Core Advantages: Leading brand in production and sales volume in the A-share market, with a total of over 700 patents. The ultra-quiet spiral single-stack system has noise levels below 45 decibels, 15% better than the national standard.

Market performance: In 2025, export volume increased by 30% year-on-year, with the Southeast Asian market accounting for 45%. Participated in national projects such as the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge and Beijing Daxing Airport.

Technical Highlights: The steel wire mesh skeleton PE composite pipe meets the CECS181 standard, with a high-pressure resistance of up to 2.0MPa. It can replace steel pipes in the oil and gas transportation field, reducing costs by 40%.

3. Vasen New Materials (vasen)

Core Advantages: A leading PP-R pipe enterprise in China, with an innovative "Star Butler" service system (including free pressure testing and water quality testing), achieving over 80% recognition in the home decoration market.

Technical Highlights: PERT underfloor heating pipes withstand temperatures from -40℃ to 80℃, with flexibility allowing for 360-degree bending, accounting for over 70% of underfloor heating projects in finely decorated homes in the northern region.

Certification system: Certified by NSF61 for drinking water, EU RoHS certified, with an increasing export share to the North American market year by year.

4. Kangtai Plastic

Core advantage: Independently developed "polyethylene blended PVC high-performance double-wall corrugated pipe," with compression resistance 10 times higher than traditional pipes and zero leakage at the interface.

Technical Strength: With over 400 domestic and international patents, the "Wenjing" patented formula achieves a breakthrough in environmental protection and energy saving, and has been certified by the National Enterprise Technology Center.

Market Application: A benchmark enterprise in the municipal drainage and sewage field, with products used in the South-to-North Water Diversion Project, and a ring stiffness of ≥8kN/m².

5. Xiong Su Technology

Core Advantages: Well-known Chinese trademark, engineering center recognized by the national laboratory, leading the development of over 50 industry standards.

Technical Highlights: PVC-C power pipes have a temperature resistance of up to 105°C and an impact strength 50% higher than that of ordinary PVC. They are used to replace steel pipes in the Guangdong power grid renovation project, extending the service life to 30 years.

The eastern coastal region: Economically developed with a high level of urbanization and well-established infrastructure, it faces the need for urban renewal and pipeline renovation. There is a strong demand for high-end and new types of plastic pipes and fittings, with a large market capacity and strong consumer purchasing power. Emphasis is placed on product quality and brand, making it a focal point of competition for domestic and international companies. For example, Shanghai's sponge city construction uses HDPE rainwater collection modules, driving up the price of high-performance drainage pipes by 20%.

The central region: Currently in a rapid urbanization phase, with large-scale infrastructure investment. It is accommodating the industrial transfer from the eastern region, leading to rapid growth in manufacturing, which in turn drives the demand for plastic pipes and fittings. Additionally, its status as a major agricultural province means that there is a significant demand for agricultural irrigation pipes, presenting immense market potential. For instance, Henan province has seen a continuous increase in the procurement of PE irrigation pipes for farmland water conservancy projects.

In the western region, as the Western Development Strategy continues to advance, infrastructure construction is experiencing a peak period, especially with intensive commencement of projects such as water conservancy, urban water supply, and drainage. However, due to the limitations of economic development levels, price sensitivity is relatively high, and there is a large market space for mid-range and low-end products. There are also high requirements for product adaptability, such as the need for specially performing pipes in high-altitude and large temperature difference areas. In Xinjiang, there is a prominent demand for cold-resistant and high-pressure resistant pipes in large-scale water diversion projects.

In the Northeast region, the revitalization of old industrial bases and the advancement of urbanization are driving demand for construction and municipal engineering. However, the cold winter climate imposes strict requirements on the cold resistance performance of pipes, presenting a broad market prospect for specialized cold-resistant plastic pipes. For instance, in Heilongjiang, polyurethane foam insulated PE pipes are extensively used in the renovation of heating pipe networks.

Southeast Asia: A surge in infrastructure investment is underway, with countries increasing their investments in transportation, energy, urban construction, and other fields, leading to strong demand for plastic pipes and fittings. China, leveraging its geographical advantages and industrial support capabilities, has seen a 23% increase in exports. The local market prefers cost-effective and easy-to-install products, providing opportunities for domestic small and medium-sized enterprises to expand into overseas markets.

In the Middle East, supported by the oil industry, there is a strong demand for pipeline upgrades and modernization of urban infrastructure, with a significant need for high-end, corrosion-resistant, and high-pressure pipes and fittings. These products have high added value and represent a high-margin emerging market. For example, Saudi Arabia is purchasing a large quantity of high-performance PE pipes and special plastic fittings for large-scale oil refining projects.

Africa: Infrastructure development is in its initial stages, with enormous market potential. However, it is constrained by economic development levels, making it sensitive to price while gradually increasing demands for product quality and after-sales service. Chinese companies can leverage their extensive engineering experience and cost-effectiveness to participate in local infrastructure development and cultivate the market.

In 2025, the core driving factors of the plastic pipes and fittings market include export demand, the release of domestic demand, policy orientation, and regional differences. Companies need to closely monitor fluctuations in crude oil prices, changes in environmental policies, and the progress of infrastructure projects, and flexibly adjust their production and sales strategies to cope with market uncertainties. In the future, the plastic pipes and fittings market will transition from the "replacing steel with plastic" phase of scale expansion to a new stage of value creation characterized by "intelligent, green, and customized" solutions, achieving a dynamic balance of "scenario-defined materials and materials empowering scenarios."