Brazil’s PVC tubing market is expected to have grown 5-6% in 2010 compared with 2009, when the sector produced and sold 404,000t, Natal Jose Garrafoli, director of the PVC tubing sector group of the national association of water and waste materials producers Asfamas, told BNamericas.

For 2011, the sector is expected to grow at a similar pace, Garrafoli said.

Since 2006, the PVC tubing market has seen a consistent improvement, except for 2009 when volumes slipped 3% as a result of the global economic slowdown.

Construction has been the main driver of the sector’s growth, accounting for 70% of PVC tubing consumption. The remainder is absorbed by the infrastructure industry.

The outlook for the coming years is also very positive, according to Garrafoli. The country’s civil construction industry grew 11% in 2010 and is forecast to see a 6% improvement in 2011, according to Sao Paulo civil construction association Sinduscon-SP.

“More than 90% of the construction projects use PVC tubing in their water, waste and electricity systems,” Garrafoli said.

The federal government’s growth acceleration plan (PAC) and housing program Minha Casa, Minha Vida (my house, my life), for example, have committed to using PVC tubing systems that comply with minimum quality standards, based on Asfamas’ quality program, the executive said.

Companies associated with Asfamas frequently go through inspections that analyze the quality of the PVC resin used through to the end product, Garrafoli explained, adding: “Some 90% of the volume of PVC tubing systems manufactured domestically is in absolute accordance with the minimum required quality standards of the industry.”

For the PVC industry in general, the scenario is also very favorable. National PVC association Instituto do PVC forecasts local consumption of the resin will grow an annual 7% over the next four to five years driven by the civil construction and infrastructure industries. Those segments will receive an additional boost from preparations for the 2014 FIFA World Cup and 2016 Olympic Games to be held in the country, president of Instituto do PVC, Miguel Bahiense Neto, told BNamericas previously.

The full interview with Natal Jose Garrafoli will be published on Monday, for subscribers.

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