[ Duplex ]
[ Duplex ]
After World War II , Japan underwent an industrial revolution based on the concept of kaizen , or “ continual improvement ”. Something similar has happened in the field of duplex stainless steel , where continual improvement has led to an expansion of duplex ’ s share of the stainless steel market , as more and more applications are served by a continually expanding portfolio of niche grades . The use of duplex stainless steel is increasing in several industries , driven largely by tougher corrosive environments in the oil & gas and petrochemical sectors , high growth in Asia Pacific and technological developments in the field of fabrication and 3D printing . In this article , we look at some of the sectors that are fuelling this growth .
Outlook Like the stainless steel market , the duplex sector is expanding fast . According to a recent survey , worldwide demand is estimated at USD4.4 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach USD6 billion by 2030 , at a CAGR of 5.4 %. Construction , oil & gas and petrochemical will account for most of the growth . ( The “ Duplex Stainless Steel - A Global Market Overview ”, Global Newswire , 19 November 2024 ). In North America , Mexico is an especially dynamic market for duplex because of its growing automotive , oil & gas and petrochemical industries . However , no country has grown so dramatically as China , where in 2023 output stood at 393,400 tonnes compared to just 828 tonnes in 2005 . Duplex ’ s share of the country ’ s stainless steel output has also risen , from
The Gordon Howe International Bridge connects the USA with Canada across the Detroit River . It was built to cater for expanded trade between the two countries – before President Trump was elected for a second time . Grades 2304 and 2205 were chosen for the rebar directly exposed to de-icing salts and splash zones .
0.1 % in 2005 to 1.07 % in 2024 , with a CAGR of 21.4 % between 2019 and 2023 1 . ( It should be noted that this optimistic projection predates the US presidential election and is likely to be affected by the tariffs on US imports – including 25 % on all steel and aluminum – that will come into effect in March .) Two major trends affect the high-end ( super and hyper duplex grades ) and the low-end ( lean grades ). Super- and hyper duplex are among the fastest-growing segments , because of the increased demand for materials that withstand extreme environmental conditions in the oil & gas , petrochemical and desalination industries . Meanwhile , lean grades
Thielmann has produced the Vertex keg , made of duplex stainless steel . It is designed to save weight and therefore transportation costs . Photo : Thielmann .
are replacing austenitics in certain applications , because of their superior corrosion resistance and lighter weight , which can result in material and cost savings . Just over a quarter of all output consists of tubes and pipes , followed by pumps & valves , fittings & flanges , welding wires , rebar & mesh , and others .
Sectors The primacy of tubes & pipes reflects the fact that the largest market is oil & gas , with an estimated share of 34 % of the total in 2024 2 . Despite the so-called “ energy transition ”, production of liquid fuels is predicted to increase by 1.9 million barrels per day ( b / d ) in 2025 and 1.6 million b / d in 2026 ( EIA figures ). This production is likely to be sustained by the presence in the White House of a climate-sceptical US president who is in favour of expanding operations that were off-limits to the Biden administration . Duplex grades are being increasingly used in critical applications such as umbilicals , valves process piping and heat exchangers . At the end of 2023 Alleima reported two major orders in this segment , one for tubes and umbilicals ( for an offshore project in Brazil ), the other for corrosionresistant-alloy OCTG tubes . More recently , Petrobras ordered from Tubacex CRA OCTGs for its offshore developments . Two further examples
16 Stainless Steel World April 2025 www . stainless-steel-world . net