Market drivers are investments in infrastructure: these include upgrading aging power infrastructure, building projects such as data centers, the backbone of Artificial Intelligence (AI), and the integration of digitized control systems. These activities have led to an increased demand for cables.
Egypt, for example, with a power consumption of 219 TWh in 2023, is expected to see a 2% annual consumption growth rate until 2026, along with an allocation of US $2.5 billion to ensure stability of electricity supplies. The country has to cope, among others, with power outages due to a surging residential demand and a growing power demand for ventilation systems due to higher temperatures.
As reported in the daily newspaper Arab News, other governments of the MEA region are also investing billions of dollars in power generation [1]. In the four years leading up to 2023, the region’s total installed generation capacity increased by 15%, exceeding 462 GW. Total capacity will need to increase by 40% by 2030, compared to a decade earlier.
The bulk of generated electricity is consumed by households and commercial buildings, rather than industrial production, accounting for 40% of the total consumption. Deploying smart technologies in buildings, particularly those that optimize air-conditioning efficiency, can reduce energy consumption without compromising economic growth.
Increasing Water Demand
Pipes, tubes and hollow profiles are necessary for the transmission of liquids, gases, free-flowing substances and for mechanical structures. These tubular products are important for the Middle East and Northern Africa. Getting hotter and drier, the region is considered the most water-scarce region in the world. Countries in this region are taking steps to ensure a water-secure future for their citizens. The World Bank supports these countries and holds ready a US $2.6 billion water portfolio, including: support to improve irrigation for agriculture, provide safe drinking water, safeguard oases, reduce systemic water losses, and clean up beaches, cities and rural communities through better treatment of wastewater. Pipes made from Polyethylene (PE) are often used across systems for water supply and irrigation, sewerage and drainage, as well as gas supply and slurry lines. These pipes facilitate an efficient application due to their properties such as mechanical strength, elasticity, corrosion resistance, chemical durability and UV resistance, combined with their ease of installation.
Fig. 2. The MEA copper pipes and tubes market (the figures for 2025 to 2030 are estimated values).