Page 3 - ITAtube Journal 2 2024

Foreword
Dr. Gunther Voswinckel President ITA
Dear colleagues from the Tube and Pipe industry, dear readers of the ITAtube Journal.
Exciting times with both positive and challenging developments are experienced by the global tube and pipe industry.
Global pipe production increased by remarkable 14% last year, and the prospects for 2024 are promising. Most tube and pipe producers were able to report strong economic figures in 2023.
The geopolitical challenges as well as the demands of climate change with regard to decarbonization of our industry are having a lasting impact on the global pipe market. 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 created a boom in demand for OCTG pipe products. The construction industry is becoming increas- ingly interesting, with new architectural solutions intensifying the use of tubular products.
The transformation to green steel tubes requires high levels of invest- ment and innovative technical solutions. New pipe markets have emerged because of decarbonization. Examples include electromobil- ity, carbon capture and the planned supply logistics for green hydro- gen, which will require large quantities of tube 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.
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 also innovative AI-based technolo- gies that are finding their way into the tube industry.
Innovative products and production processes guaranty sustainability and profitability of our industry.
As further service for our tube industry, the ITA has just released the ITAtube Buyer´s Guide as the global directory for the tube industry to enable buyers and suppliers to have a platform for easy matchmaking. Buyer`s Guide – ITA International Tube Association (itatube.org)
Yours faithfully ITA Team
ITAtube Journal July 2024
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