Page 3 - ITAtube Journal 1 2024

Foreword
Dr. Gunther Voswinckel President ITA
Dear colleagues from the Tube and Pipe industry, dear readers of the ITAtube Journal.
The global pipe industry is experiencing exciting times with both posi- tive and challenging developments.
Most tube and pipe producers were able to report strongly improved economic figures in 2023. Global pipe production increased again last year, and the prospects for 2024 are promising.
The demands of climate change with regard to decarbonization of our industry as well as geopolitical challenges are having a lasting impact on the global pipe market. The transformation to green steel tubes requires high levels of investment and innovative technical solutions. New pipe markets have emerged because of decarbonization. Exam- ples include electromobility, carbon capture and the planned supply logistics for green hydrogen, which will require large quantities of tube products.
The geopolitical trouble spots have also boosted the traditional OCTG business. To compensate for geopolitically risky oil and gas supply sources, other production capacities for oil and gas have been and are being massively expanded in regions such as North and South America. This has led to a boom in demand for OCTG pipe products.
However, it must also be mentioned that these opportunities for the pipe industry vary from region to region, as demand has changed, and production costs are regionally quite different. The political measures must be assessed in a differentiated manner in some cases.
The construction industry is becoming increasingly interesting, with new architectural solutions intensifying the use of tubular products.
For plant manufacturers, technology providers and suppliers to the tube and pipe industry as well, these dynamic times naturally offer market potential that needs to be tapped into. In addition, there are increasingly more innovative solutions for improved productivity and customer benefits. These include innovative AI-based technologies that are finding their way into the tube industry.
It is great to see, that our world-leading trade fair, the Tube 2024 Düs- seldorf show, is taking place these days and offers our industry again the opportunity to intensify customer contacts as well as establishing new ones.
Innovative products and production processes will be presented and discussed intensively and personally with trade visitors from all over the world.
Yours faithfully
ITA Team 3
ITAtube Journal April 2024