Report Overview

Pipe Rehabilitation Is Not Always Pipe Replacement

Growing investment in aging water and sewer infrastructure does not necessarily translate into equivalent increases in new pipe sales. Municipalities are increasingly turning to trenchless rehabilitation methods, particularly cured-in-place pipe lining, to extend the service life of existing pipelines without extensive excavation. While these technologies can reduce demand for conventional replacement pipe, other methods, such as pipe bursting and sliplining, are creating opportunities for plastic pipe manufacturers, particularly producers of HDPE and PVC pipe.

Key Themes Covered in this Report:

• How aging municipal water distribution systems, lead service line replacement programs, and wastewater infrastructure upgrades are influencing demand for PVC, HDPE, ductile iron, and copper pipe.
• Material substitution in building plumbing systems, including increased use of PEX for water supply, competition between PVC and ABS in drain, waste, and vent applications, and the continued role of copper pipe.
• Opportunities for PVC, HDPE, and steel electrical conduit in data center construction, utility infrastructure expansion, and electrical grid modernization.

Demand for pipe in the US is forecast to rise 4.0% per year to $77.6 billion in 2030, supported by increases in municipal infrastructure and commercial building construction.

Replacement Drives the Core Market

US pipe demand will continue to be driven by replacement of aging water, sewer, and drainage infrastructure. Municipal systems face persistent needs related to water main failures, leakage, lead service line replacement, stormwater management, and wastewater upgrades, supporting demand for PVC, HDPE, ductile iron, and concrete depending on the application. PVC remains strong in potable water and gravity sewer, while HDPE continues to gain in storm and sanitary sewer applications where fused joints and corrosion resistance offer advantages. Ductile iron remains important in higher pressure municipal systems, while concrete continues to dominate many large-diameter drainage and sewer applications.

Plastic Keeps Gaining Ground

Material substitution will continue to reshape the market, particularly in plumbing and water infrastructure. PEX has displaced substantial copper and CPVC demand in residential water distribution because of its lower installed cost, flexibility, and ease of installation, while its use continues to expand in multifamily and selected commercial applications. PVC remains entrenched in DWV and municipal water and sewer, while HDPE continues to expand in some of these same applications.

Infrastructure & Large-Scale Construction Lead the Opportunities

The strongest opportunities are concentrated in infrastructure and large-scale commercial projects. Infrastructure replacement provides a durable source of demand, while data centers, semiconductor plants, and other technically demanding facilities require substantial piping for cooling and process water, fire protection, wastewater, and utilities.

US conduit pipe demand will benefit from strong investment in data center construction, electrical grid modernization, underground utility infrastructure, and manufacturing facilities, helping offset weakness in residential construction. Opportunities are particularly favorable for PVC and HDPE conduit in underground electrical and telecommunications applications, while steel conduit continues to benefit from demand in industrial facilities and large commercial projects requiring greater mechanical protection and fire resistance.

US Pipe Report Details

Leading Companies Driving Trends in the US Pipe Market

Historical Market Trends & Growth Factors

US pipe demand changes from year-to-year based on construction activity, infrastructure investment, replacement needs, and shifts in industrial and utility spending. Because pipe serves a wide range of applications, weakness in one market can be offset by stronger activity in another, particularly municipal infrastructure or large nonresidential projects:

• Residential construction directly affects demand for plumbing, DWV, water service, and utility pipe, with housing starts and completions especially important for PEX, PVC, copper, and related products.
• Nonresidential construction influences pipe demand through plumbing, fire protection, HVAC, drainage, and site utility requirements, with data centers, manufacturing facilities, healthcare buildings, and other large projects generating particularly high pipe use.
• Municipal infrastructure spending is a major year-to-year driver of demand for water, sewer, and stormwater pipe as utilities replace aging systems, expand capacity, address leakage, and comply with water quality and environmental requirements.
• Repair and replacement activity provides a relatively stable source of demand as aging residential, commercial, and municipal piping systems require rehabilitation or full replacement regardless of new construction conditions.
• Federal, state, and local funding can accelerate demand by moving water, wastewater, transportation, and other infrastructure projects into construction, while funding delays or permitting issues can push pipe purchases into later years.
• Industrial investment affects demand for process water, wastewater, cooling, compressed air, chemical handling, and other piping systems, making major manufacturing, semiconductor, and data center projects important sources of incremental demand.
• Oil and gas drilling and pipeline activity can materially affect steel and HDPE pipe demand in individual years, although these applications represent only one part of the broader US pipe market.
• Material substitution changes demand by pipe type even when overall market activity is stable, as PEX gains in building water distribution and HDPE, PVC, and polypropylene expand in selected municipal, drainage, trenchless, and industrial applications.
• Weather events and natural disasters can temporarily boost replacement demand by damaging water, sewer, drainage, and building systems, while unusually severe weather can also delay construction and infrastructure projects.
• Distributor and contractor inventory adjustments can amplify short-term changes in manufacturer shipments, particularly following periods of rapid price changes, supply constraints, or unusually strong project activity.

Report Scope

For purposes of this report, pipe is defined as a tubular section or hollow cylinder used primarily to convey substances that can flow – such as liquids and gases (fluids), slurries, powders, and masses of small solids. Although distinctions are sometimes made between pipe and tubes, for the purposes of this study the terms “pipe”, “tube”, and “tubular products” are used interchangeably.

This study analyzes the US pipe industry. Historical data (2015, 2019, and 2025) and forecasts for 2030 and 2035 are provided in dollar, pounds, and linear feet terms for the following pipe materials:

• plastic
  • PVC
  • HDPE
  • PEX
  • CPVC
  • fiberglass
  • ABS
  • other resins such as PP, LDPE, LLDPE, MDPE, PE-RT
• steel
• copper
• ductile iron
• aluminum
• nickel and titanium
• concrete
• clay

Copper line sets and coated copper are included in the scope of the study.

Additionally, pipe demand is broken out by the following markets:

• structural and mechanical:
  • refrigeration equipment, HVAC equipment, and appliances
  • transportation equipment (e.g., aircraft and spacecraft, automobiles, buses, heavy trucks, light trucks, recreational vehicles)
  • other structural and mechanical (e.g., fencing, light poles, furniture, solar panels)
• potable water:
  • water transmission
  • water distribution
  • service and rural water
• oil and natural gas:
  • oil and natural gas drilling
  • oil and natural gas transmission
  • natural gas distribution
• storm and sanitary sewer
• conduit
• industrial processing
• drain, waste, and vent
• irrigation

Excluded from the scope of this study are the following:

• fittings
• fixtures
• gutters
• downspouts
• hoses
• pipe liners/lining and relining

Source: US Census Bureau

Note: 8- and 10-digit codes are part of the US HTS trade code system.

Source: US International Trade Commission