Segment Analysis of Plastic Pipework Market: Products, Applications, and End-Users

In Business Insights
September 10, 2025

Global Plastic Pipework market size was valued at USD 56.7 billion in 2022. The market is projected to grow from USD 61.2 billion in 2023 to USD 89.4 billion by 2030, exhibiting a CAGR of 5.6% during the forecast period.

Plastic Pipework refers to piping systems manufactured from polymer materials including PVC, PE, PP and ABS, offering corrosion resistance, lightweight properties and cost-effectiveness compared to traditional metal piping. These systems are widely used in water supply, drainage, chemical transportation, gas distribution and industrial fluid handling applications across multiple industries.

The global plastic pipework market continues to demonstrate strong growth driven by infrastructure development, water management initiatives, and the replacement of aging metal pipe networks. Increasing adoption in agricultural irrigation, oil & gas applications, and construction sectors further accelerates market expansion.

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Segmentation by Product Type

The plastic pipework market is categorized into five major material types based on polymer composition:

1. PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride) Pipework

PVC pipes dominate the market share due to their widespread use in water distribution, drainage systems and residential plumbing. They offer excellent corrosion resistance and cost efficiency for low-pressure applications.

  • Market Insight: Accounting for over 35% of global plastic pipe demand, PVC remains the preferred choice for municipal water systems and building services. Ongoing infrastructure projects in developing nations significantly drive PVC pipe consumption.

  • Trend: Manufacturers are developing modified PVC formulations with improved impact resistance and temperature tolerance to expand application scope into industrial settings.

2. PE (Polyethylene) Pipework

PE pipes, particularly HDPE variants, are favored for gas distribution, mining applications and trenchless installations due to their flexibility and joint integrity.

  • Market Insight: The gas distribution segment represents the fastest growing application for PE pipes, with replacement programs accelerating across North America and Europe. The material’s leak-proof fusion welding capability makes it ideal for fuel gas networks.

  • Trend: Bi-directional PE pipes are gaining traction in offshore oil & gas operations, offering superior fatigue resistance compared to steel alternatives.

3. PP (Polypropylene) Pipework

PP pipes specialize in chemical and industrial applications where resistance to aggressive fluids is required, including pharmaceutical and food processing plants.

  • Market Insight: While smaller in volume compared to PVC and PE, PP pipes command premium pricing in specialty industrial markets. The segment benefits from increasing regulations on material safety in food contact applications.

  • Trend: Development of reinforced PP compounds with fiberglass or carbon fiber additives is expanding pressure rating capabilities beyond traditional limits.

4. ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene) Pipework

ABS pipes are primarily used for drainage, waste and vent (DWV) systems in residential and commercial buildings due to their impact resistance and noise damping properties.

  • Market Insight: The North American market drives significant ABS pipe consumption, where building codes favor its performance in multi-story construction. However, replacement by PVC in some regions limits growth potential.

  • Trend: Flame-retardant ABS formulations are emerging to meet stricter fire safety standards in high-rise buildings.

5. Other Plastic Pipework

This category includes specialty pipes made from materials like PVDF, CPVC and composites for high-performance applications in chemical plants, semiconductor facilities and extreme environments.

  • Market Insight: Though representing less than 10% of the market by volume, these high-value products deliver disproportionate profitability for manufacturers.

  • Trend: Hybrid pipe systems combining plastic liners with composite structural layers are gaining adoption in deepwater oil exploration and desalination plants.

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Segmentation by Application

The versatility of plastic pipework enables diverse applications across multiple industries, each with unique material and performance requirements.

1. Liquid Delivery

This largest application segment encompasses potable water distribution, irrigation systems, industrial fluid transfer and wastewater management.

  • Insight: Municipal water infrastructure projects account for over 40% of plastic pipe demand globally. Government initiatives to reduce non-revenue water loss are driving large-scale pipe replacement programs.

  • Trend: Smart water networks incorporating plastic pipes with embedded sensors are emerging, enabling leak detection and pressure monitoring.

2. Gas Delivery

Plastic pipes, especially MDPE and HDPE variants, are increasingly used for natural gas distribution networks and residential service lines.

  • Insight: The phase-out of legacy metal gas pipes due to corrosion concerns presents a significant growth opportunity. North America leads in plastic gas pipe adoption with over 60% of new installations using polyethylene.

  • Trend: Composite plastic/metal pipes are being developed for high-pressure transmission pipelines, combining plastic’s corrosion resistance with metal’s strength.

3. Construction & Infrastructure

Plastic pipes serve vital roles in building drainage systems, underground conduits and HVAC applications.

  • Insight: Rapid urbanization in Asia Pacific fuels construction sector demand, with China and India together consuming over 50% of building-related plastic pipes globally.

  • Trend: Prefabricated modular plumbing systems using plastic pipes are gaining popularity to reduce construction timelines and labor costs.

4. Industrial Processing

Chemical plants, power stations and manufacturing facilities utilize specialized plastic piping for corrosive fluids, slurry transport and cooling systems.

  • Insight: While representing a smaller share of the overall market, industrial applications command premium pricing due to stringent performance requirements.

  • Trend: Increasing adoption of plastic-lined steel pipes for abrasive slurry applications in mining operations.

5. Oil & Gas Applications

Plastic pipes find growing use in offshore oil production, gas gathering lines and hydraulic fracturing operations.

  • Insight: The oilfield segment shows strong potential for reinforced thermoplastic pipes that can withstand high pressures and extreme environments.

  • Trend: Development of spoolable composite pipes for coiled tubing applications in directional drilling operations.

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Segmentation by End-User

1. Municipal Authorities & Utilities

Water and gas utilities represent the largest end-user segment, driving demand through infrastructure renewal programs and network expansions.

  • Insight: Government policies mandating water conservation and leak reduction are accelerating plastic pipe adoption for municipal water systems.

  • Trend: Utilities are increasingly specifying plastic pipes with longer warranties (50+ years) to reduce lifecycle costs.

2. Construction Companies

Commercial and residential builders utilize plastic pipes for plumbing, drainage and HVAC systems in new construction projects.

  • Insight: The shift toward sustainable building materials favors plastic pipes due to their recyclability and lower embodied energy compared to metal alternatives.

  • Trend: Modular construction techniques are driving demand for pre-assembled plastic pipe racks and manifolds.

3. Industrial Manufacturers

Process industries including chemicals, food & beverage and pharmaceuticals rely on plastic piping for material handling and utilities.

  • Insight: Stringent hygiene standards in food processing and pharmaceutical applications drive demand for specialized plastic piping systems.

  • Trend: Increased adoption of clean-in-place (CIP) systems using corrosion-resistant plastic pipes.

4. Agriculture Sector

Farm operations employ plastic pipes extensively for irrigation, greenhouse systems and livestock watering.

  • Insight: Water scarcity concerns are driving adoption of efficient drip irrigation systems utilizing PE and PVC pipes.

  • Trend: Smart irrigation systems incorporating plastic pipes with automated control valves and moisture sensors.

5. Oil & Gas Companies

Energy producers utilize plastic pipes for gathering lines, produced water handling and frac water transfers.

  • Insight: The need to reduce installation and maintenance costs in remote oilfield locations is increasing plastic pipe adoption.

  • Trend: Development of high-pressure reinforced thermoplastic pipes for offshore applications.

The Plastic Pipework market demonstrates diverse growth opportunities across its segmentation landscape. By product type, PVC maintains dominance in water applications while PE grows rapidly in gas distribution. By application, liquid delivery remains the largest segment, but specialized industrial uses show higher value potential. By end-user, municipal utilities drive volume demand, while oil & gas operators increasingly recognize plastic pipes’ technical and economic benefits.

Read Full Report Here: https://www.24chemicalresearch.com/reports/205676/global-plastic-pipework-forecast-market-2023-2029-836 

Download FREE Sample Report: https://www.24chemicalresearch.com/download-sample/205676/global-plastic-pipework-forecast-market-2023-2029-836