Page 17 - ITAtube Journal 1 2026

increased demand for pipes (Figure 13).
The enormous rise in demand for pipes
larger 16” in 2025 confi rms this trend. Par-
ticularly India, US, China and Europe are
benefi tting.
With Carbon Capture, Utilization and
Storage (CCUS) representing a new
market, requiring extensive pipeline
infrastructure, is emerging. CO₂ transport
demands higher-alloyed materials due to
corrosive conditions. Developing CO₂ pipe-
line networks will be essential for large-
scale deployment and cost reduction,
although challenges remain in permitting,
investment, and public acceptance. Adop-
tion is increasing in the U.S., the Middle
East, and beyond.
The automotive sector accounts for
around 15% of the global demand for
tubes. According to HIS, global light-vehicle
production increased to 92 million units in
2025, a level which is expected to be main-
tained in 2026 (see Figure 14).
Slight growth is forecasted for 2027 and
the following years. Higher US tariff s and
supply chain disruptions are rising manu-
facturing costs. However, Battery-Electric
Vehicles (BEVs) had a strong year 2025,
with around 13.7 million units, dominated
by China. PwC expects the BEV market to
grow by ~210% to 28.8 million units by the
year 2030. It is forecast that the Chinese
production share of the global BEV market
will lose some of its dominance. Its
market share is expected to fall from 66%
to around 54% by 2030. The enormous
growth of the BEV market is creating new
applications for tubular products in frames
and body structures.
Mechanical engineering accounts for
around 9% of global tube production.
Market volume is expected to grow from
USD 3.6 billion in 2025 to USD 5 billion in
2030, mainly driven by China, India, the
USA, and the Middle East. Industrialization
is the driving factor.
Actual growth rates of 0.8% to 1.5%,
caused by low investment due to uncer-
tainty, will increase to 5% to 7% in the long
term.
ITAtube Journal April 2026
Market information
Figure 15: Global Mechanical Engineering Regional
Market Share
Source: BusinessDojo
Figure 16: Global Mechanical Engineering Outlook
2026 (in %)
Source: VDMA, Büchner
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