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The PE pipeline industry is at a critical crossroads, facing the need for urgent adjustment and improvement. During a seminar on the application of engineering plastics held in Wujiang, Jiangsu Province, experts from the Plastics Pipeline Committee of the China Plastics Association, including Wang Zhanjie, emphasized the importance of ensuring the safety of gas and drinking water systems while meeting international standards for a 50-year service life. They called for the introduction of coordinated policies, stronger industry management, and self-regulation to promote industrial upgrading. The experts warned that failing to act now could mean missing out on the golden development opportunities brought by China’s rapid urbanization.
China is the world's largest producer and supplier of plastic pipes, with output reaching 10 million tons in 2011—a 19% increase compared to the previous year. PVC pipes accounted for 50% of the market, followed by PE pipes at 30%, and PP pipes at 10%. PE pipes are widely used in gas distribution, municipal water supply, agricultural irrigation, and drainage systems. Specifically, PE pressure pipes totaled around 1.7 million tons. Thanks to their excellent properties and ease of installation, plastic pipes have seen a steady rise in market share, now exceeding 30% in the overall pipeline sector.
However, the PE pipe industry is plagued by several serious issues. First, overcapacity has led to more than 3,000 domestic pipeline companies, most of which are small or medium-sized, with total production capacity reaching 20 million tons. Second, the market is highly chaotic, with some companies cutting costs by using low-quality materials like PE63 or recycled plastics and employing outdated production methods to manufacture substandard products. Third, high-quality PE pipes are rare, and many genuine products made with proper blends are not widely adopted. As a result, some gas companies prefer to buy imported pipes at higher prices, leading to underutilization of domestic PE100 production lines.
According to Shao Junwei, general secretary of the Shanghai Chemical Building Materials Association, the root cause of poor product quality lies in many manufacturers failing to follow national compounding standards. Instead, they use a “black process†where white materials are mixed with PE and low-cost carbon black masterbatches to produce pipes. This method often results in uneven carbon black distribution and insufficient content, which can weaken the pipe’s strength, pressure resistance, and stress cracking performance, posing serious safety risks. These pipes may not even last 50 years as promised.
So why does this “black process†persist? Chen Xinhua, director of technology at Suzhou Guojia Polymer Technology Co., Ltd., explained that some manufacturers opt for cheaper alternatives due to the high cost of producing high-quality blended pipes. With the new "Sanitation Standards for Drinking Water" now in effect nationwide, he urged relevant authorities to revise standards and enforce stricter raw material regulations, drawing inspiration from European and American practices.
Looking ahead, Wang Zhanjie predicts that China’s plastic pipe production will maintain a growth rate of around 10% in the coming years. By 2015, the total output is expected to exceed 13.2 million tons, with plastic pipes surpassing 50% of the market share in all pipeline types. He believes that through collaboration between government departments, associations, and companies, the industry can achieve healthy and sustainable development through joint efforts.
Companies must also take responsibility by promoting self-discipline, innovation, and quality control. Suzhou Guojia, for example, has developed specialized carbon black masterbatches for PE blends and achieved a 10,000-hour pressure test certification, making its products a viable alternative to imports.
Upstream raw material suppliers should also work closely with pipeline manufacturers and end-users such as city gas companies. Sinopec’s Shanghai Petrochemical Department, for instance, was the first in China to introduce a 250,000-ton full-density bimodal polyethylene technology for PE blends. Its YGH041T black pipe material passed Swedish national tests and is now preparing for international PE100 certification, aiming to provide top-tier support to customers.
To ensure industry safety, five major gas companies formed the “G5+†organization, committing to purchase only high-standard, branded PE pipes. Wang Zhanjie believes the PE pipeline industry should strengthen coordination and cooperation. With support from the China City Gas Association and gas company users, companies like Sinopec and PetroChina, along with leading plastic pipe manufacturers, are ready to establish a “PE Gas Pipeline Quality Assurance Alliance.†This initiative, currently in the planning phase, aims to start next year and requires strong backing from all stakeholders to drive the industry toward a safer and more sustainable future.