Own business: production of polymer pipes. The Russian market of polymer pipes: will it be possible to overcome the dominance of counterfeit goods? For cable channels polymer pipe market

A wide range of applications of polymer pipes is explained by durability, corrosion resistance, low thermal conductivity, environmental cleanliness, new laying possibilities. Optimum results from the use of polymer pipes can be obtained with right choice type of pipe in relation to the specified operating conditions.

Polymer pipes are made from HDPE, PVC, cross-linked polyethylene, polypropylene and copolymers of propylene, polybutene.

Pipes made of polymeric materials are mainly produced by continuous extrusion. The main element of the pipe line is a screw extruder (single screw for HDPE, LDPE and PPS, twin screw for PVC). In the production of polyethylene and polypropylene pipes, granular polymer compositions are used. In the production of PVC pipes, the necessary composition, as a rule, is prepared at pipe manufacturers. In this case, PVC resin and various stabilizers, lubricants and fillers are used.

To connect pipes made of polypropylene and polybutene, the diffusion welding method is usually used. For heating and hot water pipes are used from cross-linked PE, metal-plastic, which are connected only by fittings, and polypropylene, connected mainly by welding. Sewer pipes are connected with fittings (ordinary rubber gaskets are used for tightness). Sewer pipes made of PE can be connected by welding.

PVC pipes according to GOST R 51613-2000 are divided into two types according to the connection method. The first is for adhesive bonding, in which aggressive perchlorovinyl adhesives are used. The second type is for a socket connection, in which sealing and sealing is carried out by wedging the ring in the gap between the outer surface of the pipe and the inner surface of the socket.

Simply put, the pipes are simply inserted one into the other. Accordingly, when installing PVC socket pipes, neither sophisticated pipe welding equipment nor highly qualified personnel are needed. This is the simplest and least expensive installation method of all types of polymer pipes.

Production

At present, all over the world in the construction of gas, water supply, sewerage and heating systems, polymer pipes occupy a leading position. There are about 6.8 kg of polymer pipes per inhabitant of the European Union, and about 1.35 kg of pipes per person in Russia. First of all, such indicators indicate that the production of polymer pipes in Russia will develop dynamically.

The production of polymer pipes in Russia is actively developing. In production, there are changes both qualitative and quantitative. According to our estimates, the volume of production for 8 months of 2006 amounted to 110 thousand tons of polymer pipes, which is 20% more than in the same period of 2005. PP and PVC are approximately the same (10% each), and metal-plastic pipes account for the smallest share.

Currently, about 100 enterprises produce polymer pipes in Russia. Their number is increasing every year due to the growing demand for this product. For the most part, these are enterprises with small production capacities, whose products are distributed in local markets. They account for more than 35% of the total production. In table. 1 presents the main manufacturers of polymer pipes in Russia and their production volumes in 2005 and for eight months of 2006.

Today, of all enterprises producing polymer pipes in Russia, two main ones can be distinguished, the share of which exceeds 50% of the total production volume. These are the Polyplastic Group and OJSC Kazanorgsintez. The development strategies of these enterprises differ significantly from each other.

About 35% of the volumes of polymer pipes produced in Russia fall on the enterprises of the Polyplastic Group. The Polyplastic Group unites the Eurotrubplast Group of Companies and the Polyplastic-Technopol OC. ), LLC "Cheboksary Pipe Plant" (Novocheboksarsk, Chuvashia), LLC "Saratov Pipe Plant" (Engels, Saratov Region), LLC "Plant Yugtrubplast" (station Dinskaya, Krasnodar region); in Ukraine: Rubezhsky Pipe Plant LLC; in Belarus: SOOO Kokhanovsky Pipe Plant-Beltrubplast. The total design capacity of the group's enterprises is 150 thousand tons of PE pipes per year.

The group's plants produce a wide range of pressure polyethylene pipes for water supply and gas supply with a diameter of up to 1200 mm, pipes made of cross-linked polyethylene for heat supply and sewerage. Polyethylene pipes are made from domestically produced PE-80 and imported PE-100. The holding's enterprises are constantly expanding their range and modernizing equipment.

Not more than 20% polymer pipes Russian production are the products of OJSC Kazanorgsintez. The enterprise produces polyethylene pipes for gas pipelines in accordance with GOST R 50864-95 with a diameter of 63-315 mm and pressure pipes in accordance with GOST 18599-2001 with a diameter of 10-1200 mm. Pipes are made of polyethylene own production PE-80. At the same time, it should be noted that since 2006 Kazanorgsintez has discontinued production of pipes made of polyethylene grade PE-63. This decision was made because the grade PE-63 is outdated and does not meet international quality standards. Production facilities are completely reoriented to the production of pipes made of polyethylene grade PE-80. At the end of 2005, a joint venture between Kazanorgsintez and OOO Novomoskovsk Pipe Plant (Tula Region) was established in Russia. The new production capacity is 15,000 tons of PE pipes per year. The main supplier of raw materials, polyethylene low pressure PE-80 is Kazanorgsintez OJSC. We also note that Borodino-Plast LLC and Sibgazapparat CJSC produce 5% of the total production of polymer pipes.

In the total volume produced in Russia polypropylene pipes a significant share is occupied by pipes of NPO Stroypolimer, Magistral Plast, Aquatex-Plast, and the Polimertara plant. At the same time, the production of this type of pipes is constantly developing in Russia. An example is CJSC Icaplast, where in the spring of 2007 it is planned to launch a line for the production of two-layer polypropylene corrugated pipes.

Among the producers of PVC pipes, the largest volumes are produced by Khemko LLC (Korund plant), Polymery XXI veka LLC (Moscow), Agrigazpolimer CJSC, Sayanskkhimplast OJSC.

About 30% of PVC pipes (non-plasticized polyvinyl chloride) produced in Russia are manufactured by Khemko LLC, Nizhny Novgorod (Korund plant). 500 mm and electrical wiring TU 6-19-215-83 with a diameter of 16-90 mm. Since the beginning of 2007, the company has been increasing production capacity by 300% due to the launch of a new line of extruders from the Austrian company Krauss Maffei. The smallest share in Russian production is occupied by pipes made from cross-linked polyethylene, as well as metal-polymer pipes.

The main volumes of metal-polymer pipes in Russia are produced at CJSC Metallopolymer and Trade House Liral. The main manufacturer of pipes made of cross-linked polyethylene is Bir Peks. Despite the fact that the process of redistributing shares between manufacturers has begun in Russia, the process of developing the production of polymer pipes continues.

According to Khim-Courier magazine, all positive processes of transformation of production capacities will continue in 2007. The number of small producers of polymer pipes will not change significantly compared to 2006. in Russia will remain in 2007. According to our estimates, the volume of production of polymer pipes in Russia in 2006 will increase by at least 20% compared to 2005.

Import

Despite the increase in production volumes, the share of imported polymer pipes in the markets of the CIS countries exceeds 30%. First of all, pipes are imported, the production volumes of which in the CIS countries are not enough to meet consumer demand. Also, due to imports, the assortment range of polymer pipes presented on the market is replenished.

All imported pipes on the Russian market can be divided into three main groups. The first group includes products supplied from Western Europe, these products are the most expensive and are in demand mainly from private individuals. The second group of products includes polymer pipes produced in Turkey and Poland. The cost of these products slightly exceeds the price of locally produced pipes, but consumers believe that they are better in terms of quality. The third group is products supplied from the CIS countries. In recent years, another group of imported polymer pipes has begun to stand out on the markets - these are pipes manufactured in Asian countries.

Over the past few years, the volume of polymer pipes imported into Russia has been steadily increasing. According to the KhimKurier magazine, in 8 months of 2006, 54.01 thousand tons of polymer pipes worth $130.16 million were imported into Russia, which exceeds the same indicator of 2005 by 33% in terms of mass and by 44% in value terms. On fig. 1 shows the dynamics of changes in the volumes of imports of polymer pipes to Russia for 8 months of 2006.

Note that the dependence of the volume of imports of polymer pipes into Russia on the season is clearly traced. In the spring-summer season, the volume of imported polymer pipes increases significantly, while in the off-season it noticeably decreases. In table. Table 2 shows the volume of polymer pipes imported into Russia in 2005, as well as for 8 months of 2006.

The largest increase in the volume of polymer pipes and fittings imported into Russia is accounted for by pipes, the production of which in Russia is underdeveloped. At the same time, it should be noted that, despite a significant increase in polymer pipes and fittings imported into Russia, Russian manufacturers do not feel competition with imported pipes.

The cost of imported pipes in the Russian domestic market primarily depends on the manufacturer. The most expensive pipes are imported from European countries, their cost exceeds the cost of similar Russian-made products by 20-30%. The cost of pipes manufactured in the CIS countries (Ukraine, Belarus) is in the same price range as Russian products.

The main volumes of imports of polymer pipes and fittings to Russia come from Turkey, Poland, Germany, Ukraine, China, Italy and other countries. On fig. 2 shows the main regions-suppliers of polymer pipes to Russia and the share of their products in the total volume of imports. The most famous foreign manufacturers supplying polymer pipes and fittings to the Russian market are Wavin (Poland, Denmark, Germany), Pragma (Poland), Rehau (Germany).

According to Chem-Kurier, the upward trend in the volumes of polymer pipes imported into Russia in 2007 will continue, but there will not be such a significant increase in imports as in 2005. The total volume of polymer pipes imported to Russia in 2006 will increase by at least 25% compared to 2005.

Export

Regardless of the fact that the volumes of polymer pipes produced in Russia are not enough, exports from these countries are steadily increasing. Mostly those pipes are exported, which account for the maximum production volumes. Due to the fact that the cost of polymer pipes increases significantly during transportation, the bulk of exports falls on the CIS countries. For 8 months of 2006, 4.60 thousand tons of polymer pipes and fittings were exported from Russia in the amount of $12.05 million, which is 18% lower than in 2005 in mass terms and 15% higher in value terms.

In table. Table 3 shows the volume of polymer pipes exported from Russia in 2005, as well as for 8 months of 2006 (excluding deliveries to Belarus). Basically deliveries are carried out to the CIS countries. The largest consumers of Russian polymer pipes are Belarus and Kazakhstan. They account for approximately equal shares Russian export exceeding 40% of the total volume. On fig. Table 3 shows the main consumer countries of Russian polymer pipes and their shares in total exports for 8 months of 2006 (excluding Belarus).

The assortment structure of exports of polymer pipes is completely similar to the structure of Russian production. The maximum volumes of pipes exported from Russia fall on polyethylene pipes.

The main exporters are large Russian manufacturers of polymer pipes, such as Kazanorgsintez OJSC, Polyplastic Group, Sibgazapparat OJSC, Borodino-Plast LLC, in the PVC pipe market - Khemko LLC (Korund plant). The volume of polymer pipes exported from Russia in 2006 will remain at the level of 2005.

Market

The polymer pipes market in Russia has been showing intensive development dynamics for several years. Moreover, the market capacity is growing not only due to domestic production, but also due to imports.

The intensive growth of the market capacity of polymer pipes is due to several factors, among which the main ones are the advantages of polymer pipes over metal pipes and the high growth rates of construction volumes.

Despite the steady growth in pipe consumption, we should not expect a significant jump in its growth in the coming years. This is primarily due to the fact that the main consumers of pipes are installers and housing utilities– historically committed to metal pipes. In addition, the culture of consumption of polymer pipes is still at a low level. It should be noted that the intensive development of the market for polymer pipes in the country has led to the fact that manufacturers sometimes use materials that should not be used for the production of polymer pipes, which leads to the production of low-quality products that undermine consumer confidence.

The growth of the Russian market for polymer pipes outstrips the growth of markets for other polymer products. Demand for polymer pipes in Russia has been steadily increasing over the past few years. First of all, due to the shift in consumer preferences from metal pipes to polymer pipes.

Based on world experience, we can conclude that in the near future the growth rate of consumption of polymer pipes will not be lower than in recent years, and the trend of replacing metal pipes with non-metallic ones will continue.

The increase in the apparent consumption of polymer pipes in Russia for 8 months of 2006 amounted to 30% compared to the same period in 2005 and amounted to 159.41 thousand tons. According to many market players, in 2007 the growth rate of consumption of polymer pipes will continue. In table. 4 calculated the apparent consumption of polymer pipes in Russia in 2005 and for 8 months of 2006.

At the same time, the growth rate of the capacity of the Russian polymer pipes market is higher than the growth rate of their production volumes. Market growth is observed not only due to an increase in domestic production, but also due to imports. The share of foreign-made products on the Russian market for 8 months of 2006 reached 34%, which is 2% higher than in 2005.

Russian market polymer pipes are gradually saturated. Moreover, depending on the purpose and scope of pipes, segmental saturation of the market is uneven. Initially, the structure of the Russian market was determined by imports. Due to the increase in the number of manufacturers and the expansion of the product range, Russian pipes are present in all segments. At the same time, it is import supplies that clearly respond to changes in consumer preferences.

Today, the presence of products from Germany, the Czech Republic, Turkey, as well as pipes of domestic production, is noticeable on the Russian market of polypropylene pipes. Mostly Turkish polypropylene and metal-plastic pipes are in demand on the market. This is due, first of all, to a fairly high quality, as well as a lower price compared to analogues imported from Germany and the Czech Republic.

Demand for Russian polypropylene pipes is growing, as their quality is not inferior to Turkish and Czech counterparts, but the price is more attractive. This accordingly leads to active import substitution. The process of import substitution became more possible due to the fact that in the Russian market in 2006, due to a periodic shortage, the price of PP is lower than that of HDPE, which is not typical for these types of plastics.

In the segment of polyethylene pipes at the beginning of 2006 the market was characterized by a significant excess of supply over demand. However, since May, demand has increased significantly for pipes of various diameters. Summer 2006 was characterized by high consumer activity for polyethylene pipes. However, already in August-September, there was a shortage of large-diameter pipes on the market. What is caused, first of all, by the shortage of raw materials, as well as seasonal demand for these products, as a result, starting from July, the price of polyethylene pipes has been steadily increasing. The increase in the cost of PE pipes has led to the fact that the difference in price between a linear meter of a polyethylene pipe and its steel counterpart has significantly decreased. This factor, according to some market participants, will lead to the fact that competition between steel and PE pipes will intensify.

An interesting example of a way out of the current situation on the market was the transition of some large manufacturers of polymer pipes to imported raw materials. It should be noted that in 2006 Russian prices for some types of these products exceeded the world prices, moreover, the prices of imported producers of raw materials are less elastic. Thus, the transfer of production to imported PVC resin allowed Hemco LLC (Korund plant) throughout 2006 not only to pursue a stable pricing policy, but also to predict the absence of significant price increases in the long term.

On fig. Figure 4 shows the dynamics of price changes for PE and steel pipes in Russia in 2006. It is also worth noting that an important factor in changing consumer demand is the difference in the cost of laying metal and polymer pipes. If we take into account the total cost of laying polymer pipelines and their operation, then the cost of laying polymer pipes is 22-45% lower than steel pipes. However, not all consumers consider this factor to be dominant. The consumption of polyethylene pipes in a particular region largely depends on municipal programs.

Today, programs are being implemented in Russia to replace old pipelines with new polymer ones, but due to the low level of funding, these programs are practically not implemented.

Demand for all types of polymer pipes is seasonal. Depending on the application, seasonal fluctuations in demand are different. Thus, the demand for polymer pipes for indoor water supply is practically independent of the season, while the demand for pipes for outdoor use drops sharply in the off-season.

The seasonal factor does not have a significant impact on the change in the cost of polymer pipes. The main factor determining the price of pipes made of polymeric materials is the cost of raw materials.

The price of raw materials needed for the production of pipes has risen significantly due to the rise in the cost of oil. Due to high competition, as well as close proximity to the end consumer, pipe manufacturers cannot clearly respond to changes in the cost of raw materials. Therefore, often suppliers are forced to reduce profitability in order to maintain the sales market. Large producers compensate for the decline in profitability with larger volumes of production, and those producers who purchase raw materials at large discounts find themselves in more favorable conditions.

One of the important factors affecting the level of demand is the ratio of price and quality. At the moment, polymer pipes are presented on the Russian market in two price ranges. In the "upper" price range are pipes supplied to Russia from European countries, their cost differs from the cost of Russian pipes by 10-20%.

The price of pipes produced in Russia and Eastern Europe is practically the same. As for products imported from Asian countries, they are cheaper than Russian ones.

Saturation of the market with polyethylene pipes has led to increased competition between the players. One of the factors for successful competitive work in the steel market distribution networks. But at the same time, almost all manufacturers prefer to work directly with large customers. To attract maximum number consumers, most enterprises have developed flexible system discounts.

One of the major consumers of polymer pipes are construction organizations and utilities. They account for more than 65% of the capacity of the Russian polymer pipes market. Tough competition between market players has led to the fact that corporate consumers are currently announcing tenders for the supply of pipes.

The Russian market of polymer pipes is practically formed. At present, representatives trading companies strive to work with those manufacturers that provide optimal and profitable terms cooperation.

All transformations in the Russian market of polymer pipes, both quantitative and qualitative, will lead to the fact that the consolidation of the industry will begin in the near future. We should expect consolidation of trading companies involved in the sale of pipes.

I would like to note that the saturation of the market with polymer pipes will lead to the fact that consumers will begin to put forward rather stringent requirements for the quality characteristics of purchased products.

To date, the market for polymer pipes is characterized by high consumer activity and shortages. According to market players, the level of demand is currently higher than last year.

On the Russian market today there are polymer pipes of various manufacturers and price ranges. The Russian market of polymer pipes is developing intensively, its capacity will increase annually by at least 25%.

Prepared on the basis of a study conducted by the Chem-Courier magazine (Dnepropetrovsk, Ukraine).

>>> Also read on the topic in the magazine

Polymeric (plastic, plastic) pipes - a collective term denoting tubular products made of polymers and copolymers of various designs (one-, two-, multilayer, including composite metal-plastic, reinforced, corrugated, twisted and hydrothermal insulation), nominal diameters, for various purposes, physical-mechanical and thermal properties.

Some types of polymer pipes by design:

- two-layer corrugated (a - slotted drainage, b - solid);

The first-born polymer pipes include polyvinyl chloride PVC pipes, the production of which was started back in the pre-war years - from "hard" unplasticized polyvinyl chloride (abbreviation PVC-U, RPVC, U-PVC or UPVC), plasticized in order to improve technological properties (abbreviation PVC-P or FPVC), chlorinated polyvinyl chloride to improve heat resistance (abbreviation CPVC, PVC-C or PVCC) and high molecular weight polyvinyl chloride (abbreviation HMW PVC).

Rice. Structural lattice of polyvinyl chloride.

The advantages of PVC pipes include low sensitivity to UV radiation, reduced flammability in comparison with other polymers and copolymers, and increased resistance to aggressive media. The disadvantages are HCL emission that destroys the material with increasing temperature and prolonged exposure to light in the visible part of the spectrum, which forces manufacturers to introduce stabilizers into the raw material composition, low heat resistance (for PVC-P or rigid vinyl plastic about 75 degrees, for chlorinated PVC with 60-65% chlorine in CPVC versus 57% in RPVC or CPVC up to 90 degrees Celsius).

In the post-war years, the development of the Max Planck Institute in terms of new catalysts for the polymerization of ethylene at low pressure stimulated the emergence of an industry for the production of pipes from low density polyethylene (or high pressure polyethylene LDPE), high density (low pressure HDPE), and then cross-linked polyethylene PE-X, made from PVD (or PHD) by “linking” (linking) linear bonds with peroxides (abbreviation PE-Xa), organsiloxanes (PE-Xv) or using ionizing radiation (PE-Xc).

Rice. Structural lattice of polyethylene and cross-linked polyethylene.

The binding of molecular bonds in cross-linked polyethylene made it possible to increase the strength properties of polyethylene pipes and their resistance to high temperatures (heat resistance of PE-X up to 95 degrees Celsius).

The first polypropylene pipes (PP) mass production appeared on the European market in 1959, and then the range of polypropylene pipes expanded due to the use of propylene copolymers (PPR, PPRC), reinforcement and the use of multilayer structures.

The heat resistance of polypropylene pipes is slightly lower than that of XLPE pipes, but higher than that of PVC and HDPE pipes.

Rice. Structural lattice of polypropylene.

In the 60-70s, fiberglass pipes made of glass-fiber reinforced polyester polymer began to be produced with operating temperatures up to 150 degrees Celsius, although in limited quantities due to technical complexity and high cost of production (5-6 times more expensive than steel pipes), polybutylene pipes, similar in properties to pipes made of Random polypropylene copolymer, but more plastic.

In 1979 English company Kitetechnology B.V. was the first to patent the technology for the production of metal-plastic pipes from five layers - internal and external from PE-X, fastened with adhesive layers with a butt-welded aluminum pipe 0.5-2 mm thick with increased strength characteristics and a very low temperature coefficient of linear expansion compared to other polymer pipes TCLE not more than 0.024-0.026 mm/mK.

By the end of the last century, the production of pipes made of polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) with an operating temperature range from -40 to +140 ° C, resistant to UV radiation from the sun, was launched, which makes it possible to lay them on the ground.

The main operational properties of some polymer pipes

Basic properties	Cross-linked polyethylene (PE-X)	PVC (PVC)	CPVC (CPVC)	Polypropylene (PP)	Polyvinylidenfluoride (PVDF)	Metal-plastic
Density, g/cm3	0,93-0,95	1,4	1,5-1,6	0,93	1,78	--
TCLE, mm/mK	0,12-0,14	0,06	0,062	0,12	0,12	0.26 x 10-4
Elongation at break, %	200-500	5-10	3-8	800	110	--
Modulus of elasticity, MPa	550-800	up to 4000	up to 3000	900	2100	--
Thermal conductivity, W/mK	0,40-0,41	0,13-0,15	0,16	0,15-0,2	0,19	0,43
Working temperature, C / working pressure, MPa	95/0,85	75/0,85	93/0,47	75/0,6	145/0,8	95-110/0,8-0,92

Note: According to European, American and Russian standards, the strength characteristics of metal-plastic pipes are taken according to the indicators for the polymer layer, which can be made of cross-linked and non-cross-linked polyethylene.

Compared to steel, cast iron and copper pipes polymer pipes produce very little atmospheric pollution, require relatively little electricity, when laid in the ground they hardly pollute the soil, and with the exception of chlorinated polyvinyl chloride pipes, CPVC does not have a polluting effect on the transported water.

In general, the advantages of polymer pipes in comparison with steel pipes are shown in the table.

Operational properties	Polymer pipes	Steel pipes
Average service life, years	50 or more	15-20
Abrasion resistance	from 0.06 to 0.5 mm per year - 4 times higher than steel	Sensitive to wear with concomitant galvanic corrosion
Frost resistance	Multiple freezing / thawing without changing properties at a brittleness temperature of -50 degrees and below	High when transporting gas and bulk materials and low when transferring liquid media
Corrosion resistance	High, including aggressive environments, with the exception of metal-polymer, sensitive to pitting corrosion due to stray currents	Sensitive to atmospheric, water, electrochemical, etc. corrosion, limited in corrosion resistance with zinc or zinc-aluminum tread protection
Inner surface properties	Low surface roughness, which eliminates the risk of deposits and reduces the turbulence of the transported flow	Marked deterioration bandwidth during operation with an increase in the hydraulic resistance of the pipeline
Relative extension	From 100 to 800% for different types of pipes, which increases the manufacturability of the material	20-30%
Thermal conductivity	From 0.13 to 0.43 W / mK for metal-polymer pipes	Up to 47 W/mK which causes fogging when transporting cold water
Plastic	Bending without visible deformations at radii from 20-40 diameters (depending on the material)	Low, which requires pipe bends using fittings
Elasticity	It is possible to compensate for thermal expansion/elongation by constructive solutions of laying schemes	Compensators are needed to dampen the thermal expansion of the pipe
Number of joints	For polyethylene and polypropylene pipes of small diameters, delivery in coils is possible, which significantly reduces the number of joints in the pipeline	At least 90 joints per 1 km of pipeline
Ease of transportation and installation	Small specific gravity and the possibility of welding (butt, electrofusion, socket) most types of pipes in various diameters	For laying pipes of large diameters, special equipment is required, the connection of joints on couplings, oxy-fuel welding, flange connections
Laying method	Trenching, pulling in old pipes, ground method for pipes resistant to UV rays of the sun	Trench or ground/air with insulation and corrosion protection

Despite a number of obvious advantages of polymer pipes in comparison with traditional pipelines (steel, cast iron, ceramic, reinforced concrete), the attitude towards them in different countries is different, largely due to the influence of metal-roll manufacturers on the media and governments of countries. The greatest resistance to the popularization of polymer pipes is in the post-Soviet countries, including Russia, where steel pipes lead the national market in terms of sales.

Rice. Volumes of pipe consumption in Russia (left) and EU countries (right).

The influence of pipe manufacturers on consumption in our country can also be seen in the volume of sales of metal-plastic pipes, which, for example, in Germany are sold in smaller quantities than polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinylidene fluoride, steel, cast iron and fiberglass pipes.

Rice. Consumption of pipes from different materials in Germany.

In general, experts for Russia predict an increase in sales and consumption of polymer pipes by 2025 by almost three times compared to 2010.

INVENTRA held the 11th international conference "Polymer pipes and fittings 2017" in Moscow. As a start, the organizers offered the participants in the discussion a very pessimistic “diagnosis” of the current state of the market: “Demand from the housing and communal services segment, once a large consumer, has disappeared almost completely. The short-lived housing boom has also petered out. The real sales market for polymer pipe manufacturers are large national projects such as the 2018 FIFA World Cup, the construction of the Vostochny cosmodrome, as well as the reconstruction of military facilities ... In order to stay afloat, small manufacturers have to fight for survival, lowering the price of their products and reducing production costs.

However, experts assessed these challenges rather as secondary ones. In the first place - the damage from counterfeit products, which literally flooded the market.

Positive trends

Russia still remains the only one of the economically developed countries, giving preference to metal pipes in the field of housing and communal services and water supply. To this day, metal is the leader in the pipe market, accounting for about 60% of all consumed pipeline products, while polymers account for only about 35% (of which 21% are polyethylene (PE) pipes, 9% are polypropylene (PP) pipes) , pipes made of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) - 4%).

According to INVENTRA analyst Vyacheslav Gushchina, the consumption of polymer pipes in general in 2016 amounted to 425 thousand tons, i.e. remained at the level of 2015. At the same time, the consumption of PP pipes increased by 9%, while polyethylene pipes, on the contrary, decreased. The expert attributed the drop in demand for PE pipes to the difficulties in the housing and communal services sector, which is the main (up to 70%) customer of such pipes, mainly for water supply.

The production of PP pipes increased over the past year by 21%, and their exports doubled. Significant growth was achieved, in particular, due to a threefold increase in output by the Valf-Rus plant (Vladimir region), which is the production site of the Teploset company. Such a big leap was achieved largely due to the expansion of production and equipment upgrades: in 2016 alone, the company purchased seven extrusion lines from Sarem Makina, and the plant is equipped with 16 extrusion lines in total. Also, the growth of production was noted in the companies "RosTurPlast" and "PK Kontur".

At the same time, the consumption of PVC pipes in Russia decreased by 14% last year. The share of domestic products in this sector also decreased - by 3% compared to 2015, thus amounting to 78%. At the same time, 54% of the Russian market is closed by four companies out of 30 manufacturers: Chemkor, DKS, UralPak and Rosal. According to V. Gushchin (INVENTRA), in general, the positions of foreign suppliers continue to weaken compared to 2008, when foreign products occupied half of the Russian market.

The expert connects some decrease in the production of finished pipe products solely with non-sectoral difficulties: a decline in the residential real estate market, the suspension of the construction of shopping and entertainment centers, and a reduction in regional investment in the housing and communal services sector. The supply of raw materials, in turn, is only growing: in 2016, Russian chemical enterprises increased the production of pipe grades polypropylene up to 75.5 thousand tons - by 50% compared to 2015

At the same time, there is no need to talk about significant demand for new equipment. The aforementioned Vladimir "Valf-Rus" last year was the only plant where significant investments were made in the modernization of production. In total, in 2016, 93 extrusion lines worth almost $10 million were imported, and this is the lowest figure in recent years, both in physical and value terms. The drop in imports of equipment compared to 2015 was 23%.

At the same time, according to the forecast of the director of the department of pipeline systems of the Polyplastic Group Kirill Trusova, in 2017 the volume of the PE pipe market as a whole will remain at the same level, and with favorable conditions by 2021 it will be able to reach the pre-crisis volumes of 2013 - up to 550 thousand tons.

About fake and counterfeit

However, all these positive trends are seriously hampered by falsification and counterfeiting. According to the head of the Association of Pipeline Systems Manufacturers Vladislav Tkachenko, the share of counterfeit and falsified products in the Russian market of polymer pipes ranges from 20 to 30% per total amount about 9 billion rubles.

The main reasons for the dominance of counterfeiting: lack of required amount professional accredited laboratories, research centers and certification bodies. At the same time, methods are widely known that allow manufacturers of counterfeit products to receive fabulous profits: they mix secondary polymer raw materials with pipe raw materials, and often other cheap impurities (soot, chalk, etc.). Such products often do not withstand high pressure, do not weld at the seam, tear when pulled, in general, are a product with an unpredictable failure time. "Garage" manufacturers with fake certificates for products that avoid honest competition and conquering their part of the market due to low prices, in our country there are about one and a half hundred, Mr. Tkachenko believes.

According to the adviser CEO Gazprom StroyTEK Salavat Sergei Bershitsky, from 10 to 30% of PE pipes in the Russian Federation are produced with obvious violations of quality requirements. As a result of inspections carried out by Gazprom StroyTEK Salavat for the production of counterfeit and falsified pipe products, it turned out that at half of the inspected enterprises, products are manufactured with obvious violations and do not comply with the standards of the fundamental GOST R50838-2009.

Manufacturers of polymer products intend to fight counterfeiters with all available methods. Thus, the Association of Pipeline Systems Manufacturers (APTS, formerly NP "Promoting the Development of High-Quality Polymer Pipeline Systems") considers the fight against counterfeit and falsified pipe products to be one of its key goals. According to the Director of the Association Vladislav Tkachenko, so-called black-and-white lists are already being created and posted on popular Internet resources, which indicate both unscrupulous market players and trusted manufacturers. Lists of laboratories and certifying organizations will soon be available on the Association's website. In the future, APTS intends to assist in laboratory studies of dubious samples, apply to supervisory authorities, and also conduct explanatory work both with buyers of pipe products and with regional officials responsible for the implementation of certain programs in the housing and communal services and construction sector, V. Tkachenko.

The initiator of the creation of APTS is the Polyplastic Group, which invites all participants in the polymer industry to active joint work. Many domestic and foreign companies support the announced initiative, including Pipelife, RusVinyl, Gazprom StroyTEK Salavat.

Production of plastic pipes: 7 product advantages + 9 applications + procedure + market and industry analysis + 4 main products + raw materials + 6 suppliers + technology + premises and its equipment + personnel composition + sales + cost items + possible profit.

In recent years, the attention of many entrepreneurs has been attracted by the production of plastic pipes. Companies open their own workshops where PVC products are manufactured.

What is the reason for the popularity? In the improvement of production, the growth of demand and the wide use of polymeric, cylindrical products. Due to the emergence of more and more new players in the market, fierce competition has formed.

But by offering a quality product at an attractive price for customers, you can bypass many of them.

Why make plastic pipes?

The production of plastic will bring a steady profit to the business owner. Plastic is a material that, since 2010, has been considered superior to others in construction and other areas.

Such a boom was caused by its convenience and practicality, minimal resource consumption and other operational characteristics. Pipes made on the basis of plastic also have a number of advantages, which to this day make these products in demand on the market.

Another plastic cylindrical product is characterized by:

• resistance to high temperature (limit 170 ° C), rotting, dynamic loads, abrasion;
• light weight;
• fire safety and safety for drinking water supply;
• seismic resistance;
• flexibility;
• economy of operation.

Although the fashion trends for plastic have “slowed down” a little, pipes made of this material are still being successfully implemented. This is one of the reasons that the business of their production has a good return and is promising.

The widespread use of plastic pipes also contributes to the excellent sales volumes. The list is really long, but we will list the main areas.

• sewer systems;
• water pipes;
• cable channels;
• heating;
• transportation of liquids in industrial production;
• home networks;
• drainage systems;
• installation of irrigation and irrigation systems;
• gas distribution, etc.

Difficulties for the future entrepreneur will arise when entering the market, since there is a lot of competition in this area. However, this should not discourage such activities as the production of plastic pipes.

If you produce a wide range of good quality products according to attractive price, and are willing to compete for end users with existing resources and proactive strategies, gaining a strong position will be an achievable goal.

The procedure for opening the production of plastic pipes

As in any entrepreneurial activity, first of all, you need to do it, which will become your guide to action, help you avoid many mistakes and indicate what financial support is needed to start production.

Before writing it, an entrepreneur should already have an idea about the plastic pipe market, the competitive environment, which are formed during the analysis (we will return to it in more detail). Of course, you will have to delve into the production technology, think about where and how you will buy raw materials and equipment.

Equally important is the question of labor resources and production areas, the formation of the range. In addition, the manufacture of plastic pipes requires registration, the choice of a tax regime.

Because pipe production occurs with, it is harmful. Therefore, it is required to comply with the rules of international law regarding the care of environment to ensure its safety.

For all types of products you need to have certificates of conformity. The company must implement the Policy in the field of quality and ecology.

1. Market and polymer pipe industry analysis.

The Russian market for plastic pipes is somewhat limited and narrowed in volume due to lack of raw materials and end demand. The problem is counterfeit and savings on production costs.

In 2016, sales of plastic pipes showed stable dynamics. If compared with 2014, it will be negative.

Consumption remained at 425,000 tons. Enterprises that upgraded and expanded production capacity produced more plastic products, and although consumption increased by 2016, supply exceeded demand.

The production of pressure plastic pipes prevailed (60%), non-pressure pipes were produced least of all (19%), corrugated products accounted for 21%. At the same time, record deliveries of domestic raw materials (75 thousand tons of various types of polypropylene) became an incentive for increasing production.

There is a tendency to oust foreign companies involved in the supply of pipes from the market. In this industry, the consumption of polyethylene pipes has exceeded 62%.

The main production facilities are involved in the manufacture of large-diameter PE pipes intended for use in water supply and gas distribution. There is the toughest competition and there is practically no import.

In 2016, there was a decrease in import supplies of equipment used in the production of plastic pipes. China remains the main supplier. He provides Russia automatic lines by 70%.

The main issue for manufacturers of plastic pipes is the supply of raw materials. Moreover, few pipe business owners are sure that the reduction in the price of raw materials will increase the production of plastic pipes.

By 2020, it is expected to increase the production of polypropylene and polyethylene by 30%.

The competition is:

• Cheboksary Pipe Plant;
• Polymer pipeline systems;
• Polyplastic Group;
• Techstroy;
• About Aqua;
• Politek;
• PC Contour;
• Chemcore;
• Pipelough and others.

In general, the production of polymer pipes in Russia can be called oligopolistic, since the main part of the market is occupied by 8 large enterprises. And although these positions are only being strengthened, conditions are being created for small and medium-sized companies to actively develop their business.

Production efficiency is achieved through the use of new technologies, the introduction of innovations, and the production of unique plastic products. This gives rise to the need to purchase expensive equipment.

The reform of housing and communal services and the modernization of infrastructure have a great influence on the development of the market.

2. A variety of plastic pipes: what kind of products to produce?

To determine the assortment, the production and sale of which the entrepreneur will be engaged in, you should deal with the types of plastic pipes:

PE pipes they transport water well for drinking and household needs, and are used for wastewater disposal. Such products are produced with a length of at least 12 m and a diameter of 1.6-16 cm. Products can be found under the brands PE 63, 80, 100, 100 ... etc.

The production of polyethylene pipes has its own characteristics:

• use of advanced technologies,
• lower cost,
• less expensive packaging.

The degree of polymerization allows the production of products of different pressures.

PVC pipes are produced in a non-pressure type, they are not afraid of low temperatures and other climatic changes, they are durable. These items are intended for the installation of underground pipelines, sewerage, removal of gaseous media, the temperature of which does not exceed 45°C.

Also used in construction, because are good economic indicators. Their diameter is 11-63 cm, and their length is up to 12 m. They are painted white, orange.

Polypropylene products due to their multi-layeredness and high stiffness class, they do a good job of summing up drinking water. PP is also bought for the modernization of the heating system, technological installations. Diameter range - 2-11 cm. They are supplied in lengths from 2 to 4 m.

Metal-plastic pipes considered the best option for home use,
because they are easy to install. However, during mechanical deformation, the PCBs break quickly, and the connecting elements are not resistant to high temperature changes in water.

The color of the products indicates their scope. So, blue products are used to supply cold water. White pipes are needed in the installation of hot pipelines, heating. Products with a red color are used for the purpose of laying a warm floor. The gas supply uses yellow pipes.

The cost of pipes depends on their parameters, i.e. on thickness, diameter, length, layering. In addition, the pricing policy is formed based on specifications products (pressure and temperature of the medium that it can withstand).

The most popular are polyethylene pipes of grades 80, 63 and 100. Prices range from 15 to 860 rubles.

3. What raw materials are purchased for the production of plastic pipes?

In order for the production of polymer pipes to be carried out without problems, it is necessary to take care of the raw material supply. In the future, the supply of polymer should occur regularly.

Used as raw material:

• polybutylene (PB),
• polyethylene (PE),
• polyvinyl chloride (PVC),
• polyamide (PA),
• polypropylene (PP) and other propylenes.

Raw materials are purchased in the primary grade in granular form.

The choice of raw materials will be influenced by the type of production. When buying it, pay attention to the expiration date and quality. The most commonly purchased copolymer of polypropylene. Such a composite allows you to engage in the production of durable products.

The fallback option is secondary raw materials, they are also waste. From this, low pressure plastic pipes will be obtained, which stand for HDPE.

At the stage of preparing production for launch, the owner of the workshop must find suppliers. You can sign supply contracts with Russian enterprises engaged in the production of polymers, and with foreign ones. The price for domestic primary raw materials is up to 80 rubles/kg, the prices for secondary material are from 30 to 40 rubles/kg.

List of presenters Russian manufacturers polymer granules for plastic pipes:

• Polyplastic– produces secondary polyethylene and other polymer materials at an affordable price.
• Roecoplast- a company that produces LDPE, HDPE granules.
• Polymer Club– implements the production of raw materials for the manufacture of pipes, packaging, films, etc.
• AST Promplast– carries out production and sale of PVD-granules.
• GlavTechProm- is a trading and manufacturing company in the field of polymers, RTI, ATI.
• TD Plastmass Group is a supplier and manufacturer of synthetic polymers.

Production technology: how to produce plastic pipes?

The production of plastic pipes is carried out according to a relatively simple technology. The principle of extrusion is used, when pipes of the required shape are squeezed out of softened plastic using special equipment - an extruder.

The production process begins with the loading of raw material granules into the bunker of the machine. It crushes and liquefies the plastic. The formed mass is squeezed out into the tanks.

Immediately plastic blanks are given the required shape. Then they are pulled out and dipped into a cooling tank, where, by means of pressure and calibration, the “semi-finished products” are subjected to processing and giving a finished look.

The last stage of production is cutting plastic products. They are twisted in coils or stacked if they have a large diameter.

Placement of an enterprise for the production of polymer pipes

You will need to rent a room outside the city with an area of ​​​​40-200 square meters. m. It is necessary that a convenient transport access be provided to the workshop. There are no higher power requirements.

Be sure to allocate a large space for storage. It also requires a room for staff (industrial, administrative), a bathroom.

In addition, the premises must have:

• water supply,
• sewer,
• ventilation,
• heating,
• fire protection system.

Rent a room with high ceilings. This is due to the bulkiness and height of the machines. High humidity is not allowed in the workshop. Therefore, it is better to buy a hygrometer and monitor this parameter.

Equipment for plastic pipes - we equip production.

In order to produce plastic pipe products, an entrepreneur must automate the production process by, the main of which will be an extruder.

This is an apparatus designed for plasticizing, and it comes in various types.

Auger work on the principle of a meat grinder. Screwless devices are used for the production of plastic tubular products from mixed raw materials. Combined machines are equipped with both disk and screw mechanisms.

Usually, screw-type equipment is used in the production of plastic pipes, it is considered the simplest, and also has its own classification:

To figure out what kind of extruder is needed in your case, it is better to contact a specialist.

Is it possible to buy for production automated line, which will consist of the following elements:

Equipment for plastic pipes is bought from Russian suppliers, as well as imported. Those who have a limited budget have the opportunity to purchase used machines. New car prices are high from 2 to 4.5 million rubles.

Personnel of plastic pipe manufacturing enterprise

To participate in the production will require from 3 workers (shift). This is an operator, technologist and assistant. A technologist is entitled to a salary of at least 50 thousand rubles, and an operator - up to 30 thousand rubles.

Regardless of whether they have experience with such equipment or not, they need to be briefed.

If you yourself cannot control the production process, you will still need to hire a manager. IN without fail the company must have an accountant and a sales manager. It is advisable to hire a cleaning lady.

If you intend to install standard equipment and increase production volumes, it may be necessary to increase the staff to 6 people per shift.

If you plan to provide production transport logistics, it should be noted that these are additional costs, and special requirements are imposed on vehicles.

Having formed a team, it also needs to be retained. To do this, it is necessary to create a healthy psychological climate in it, introduce, provide normal conditions labor, social guarantees.

It is important to motivate employees with rewards, which will help them achieve their goals in a shorter time.

Sales of plastic pipes

If you do not give serious importance to the sale of products, and do not think about it in advance, the production of plastic pipes will become unprofitable. It is necessary to make a lot of efforts to find your customers, wholesale customers and conclude profitable contracts with them.

You need to offer plastic products:

• construction bases and shops;
• private individuals;
• to various companies;
• Housing and communal services, etc.

You will have to develop all kinds of discounts, make special offers, hold promotions. For brand positioning, do not skimp on advertising. Use methods available in the real environment (media, television, radio, outdoor advertising, distribution of leaflets, etc.) and on the Internet.

Creating your own website will be a great solution, because this way you will expand your audience and give customers the opportunity to order pipes online.

Production process of polymer pipes.

What are the properties of polymer pipes?
Equipment for the production of.

How much can you earn in the production of plastic pipes?

First, let's decide on the investments needed to start. Minimum amount will amount to 2 million 260 thousand rubles. For large enterprise you need to have 8-9 million rubles.

Expenditure:

• registration, obtaining permits - from 15 thousand rubles;
• rent - from 50 thousand rubles;
• taxes - from 20 thousand rubles;
• utilities - from 30 thousand rubles;
• equipment - 2-4.5 million rubles;
• raw materials - from 200 thousand rubles;
• Payroll - from 250 thousand rubles;
• advertising - from 55 thousand rubles.

The profit will depend on the type and characteristics of the plastic products produced, pricing policy. In general, for 300-400 thousand rubles. net profit per month can be calculated. Profitability reaches 18%, and the costs will pay off within 2-3 years.

With the right approach to planning activities, analyzing the market, purchasing high-quality raw materials and equipment, the production of plastic pipes will enter the category profitable directions business.

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The polymer pipe market growth rate in most European countries corresponds to twice the GDP growth rate, while in Russia it exceeds this figure by about four and a half times. The only country where this dependence is weakly expressed is Kazakhstan - there the market for polymer pipes is growing mainly due to strong state support construction market. In Russia, the main engine for the growth of the polyethylene pipes market is the replacement of engineering networks for water supply and sewerage, as well as state image projects (Olympics, Universiade, World Cup, APEC Summit, etc.). Despite this, in 2010 the market for polyethylene pipes could not return to pre-crisis levels. The total accumulated capacity for the production of these products in Russia, according to Mr. Trusov, is approximately three times higher than the volume of production. The market is highly competitive and difficult to work with simple and standard products.

Large players, which occupy about 70% of the market, are striving to diversify their activities, in particular, Polyplastic, in addition to the traditional production of pressure pipes, has added the production of flexible pre-insulated pipes for hot water supply and heating, pipes for sewerage, pipes for trenchless laying and other new products for Russia. At the same time, according to the head of Polyplastic Miron Gorilovsky, foreign players, even those with advanced technologies, are not very interested in working in Russia, therefore, with the exception of Pipelife, they are not represented in the country. At the same time, in a number of segments, for example, in the pipe market for internal water supply and heating, the share of imported products is about half of all consumption.

Chairman of the Board non-profit partnership"Polymer pipeline systems" Marat Baimukanov spoke about the market of polymer pipes in Kazakhstan. According to him, there is still a strong lobby of steel pipe manufacturers in the republic, and one of the organization's tasks is to explain the safety of polymer pipes for drinking water supply. Kazakhstan has three major players pipe market: "Kazakhstan Pipe Plant", which has two sites near Astana and Taraz, the "Arystan" plant of the Russian "Polyplastic" in Stepnogorsk and a plant in Atyrau. Also, in each of the regions of the republic, many small companies operate on the market, often using cheap raw materials best quality. In addition, despite high transportation costs, large volumes of pipes are imported into the republic from Russia, Turkey and a number of other countries. In most regions of Kazakhstan, the market for polymer pipes is still poorly developed; Astana and the western regions of the republic account for half of the consumption. In both cases, public investments and projects within the framework of public-private partnerships, in particular on the main drinking water supply in rural areas, play an important role.

Surface modification of polymer pipes, in particular, fluorination, allows their use in aggressive environments and expands their application in industry. Yevgeny Bukharev, general director of the Mayak-93M company, spoke about the pilot production of such pipes. According to him, pipes after fluorine treatment are 30% more expensive, but they acquire unique properties that allow them to be used, for example, in the technological equipment of steam boilers and for other similar purposes.

A heated discussion among the conference participants was caused by the problems of using polymer pipes in hot water supply. In a report by Konstantin Zvezdin, commercial representative for Dow Europe's Plastics division, shocking figures were given for the depreciation of Russian heating networks and the amount of investment required to replace them. According to him, a third of Russia's heating networks are over 25 years old, while only 20% were laid in the last fifteen years. The cost of replacing all networks is estimated at about 400 billion rubles, but these costs will pay off in just 2.5 years, since now 10% of all heat energy is lost in the networks during transportation. The participants of the conference, however, noted that in the conditions of the cold climate of Russia and extreme loads on the networks, central hot water supply will inevitably become a thing of the past and will be replaced by on-site heating of water.

Chief Engineer Moscow United energy company Ilya Pulner said that MIPC has already laid 3.8 thousand km of pipelines using pipes made of cross-linked polyethylene and stainless steel. In total, the company manages 10.5 thousand km of hot water supply networks, including 3 thousand main ones. The main difficulty and cause of problems with the use of polymer pipes is the lack of experience of contractors in their installation, especially in joining polymer and metal pipes. This causes damage and accidents. Alexander Klimovich, Head of the Uponor Rus Department for Microclimate Systems, spoke about the company's products for hot heat supply and heating, in particular, the use of multilayer thermal insulation of pipes, including foamed polyethylene.

Independent market expert Alexander Gorshenin told the audience about trenchless pipeline rehabilitation technologies using polymer pipes, which are becoming increasingly popular. The pipe is inserted into the damaged pipeline, pulled along it and joined to the undamaged section. In this case, for convenience, the pipe can be introduced into the pipeline in a rolled state, and then straightened with steam. Such a recovery method was mentioned, in particular, by Sergey Skopintsev, head of the technological control department of Mosvodokanal, which services 20,000 km of pipelines. The share of polymer pipes in this amount is still only 5%, because, despite their characteristics, the attitude towards them remains wary, and inexperienced contractors have problems during their installation. Mikhail Mordyasov, Head of the Laboratory of Pipeline Systems and Structures at the Scientific Research Institute of Communal Water Supply and Water Purification, urged industry participants to focus on these problems. According to him, design organizations, especially regional ones, very often reject the use of polyethylene pipes in water pipes. A center for approving such projects is needed, independent of these organizations and the manufacturers of the pipes themselves. This will improve the culture and quality of laying polymer pipelines, which are often laid in unprepared trenches without reinforcement and concreting with a gross violation of the laying technology, which leads to accidents.

An important role in creating a positive and negative image of polymer pipes is played by their quality. According to Kirill Trusov, up to 12% of the polyethylene consumed for the production of pipes in Russia falls on non-pipe grades, that is, every sixth polyethylene pipe in Russia is produced from surrogate raw materials. The report of Alexander Bychkov, General Director of Plast Profile, was devoted to the problem of the quality of polymer pipes. The company is engaged in the development of regulatory documentation, especially for PVC pipes, produces casing pipes for water wells. According to him, up to half of all raw materials consumed for the production of polyethylene pipes, one way or another, needs to be modified with dyes and superconcentrates, since otherwise it is impossible to make pipes from this polyethylene. The vast majority of manufacturers do not have full-fledged factory laboratories, product quality control is not carried out, and consumers (construction organizations) are, as a rule, only interested in the price of pipes, since they are of little concern about their durability. Conference participants consider this state of the market and institutional environment in the polymer pipes industry to be extremely alarming and dangerous, since pipes made from surrogate raw materials are used, among other things, for gas supply. According to Miron Gorilovsky, in Russia from 25 (11%) to 30 (13%) thousand tons of polyethylene pipes are produced from surrogate raw materials, while in Ukraine - every third pipe. The only organization, which can somehow control the situation, is Rospotrebnadzor, whose representatives Polyplastic proposes to send with checks to unscrupulous manufacturers of pipes for drinking water supply.

A heated discussion among the participants of the event was caused by the question of the reasons for such a wide distribution of surrogate raw materials. It is mainly used by small companies that, for financial reasons, are unable to purchase high-quality polyethylene pipe grades directly from manufacturers or importers, and are forced to purchase cheaper high-density polyethylene film grades. Only in this way can they compete with big companies, which have a lower cost due to large orders from government agencies related to gasification and utility networks. At the same time, the barriers for new players to enter the market are quite serious, the price of an “entrance ticket” to the industry is about 20 million euros of investments, and even more costs are needed to create an institutional environment favorable for a new manufacturer. Those who do not have such resources can enter the market only through the "back door", including using surrogate raw materials and refusing product quality guarantees. But this does not save many small and medium-sized companies from going out of business; the number of market participants is reduced, it becomes less competitive. According to Fares Kilzie, head of Creon, if the market continues to move in the same direction, it will become an inert environment where only 3-4 companies work, it will stop growing and developing.

With the analysis of production technologies and analysis current state and market forecast you can find in the report marketing research Academy of Industrial Market Studies:

Market of flexible pipes in polyurethane foam insulation in Russia
Market research of polyethylene pipes in Russia
Market of corrugated pipes for drainage and storm sewerage in Russia
Market of fiberglass pipes in Russia
PVC pipe market: import substitution opportunities and market analysis during the crisis
Market of polypropylene pipes in Russia

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