The Southeast Asian Infrastructure Boom: Analysis of the Top 3 Characteristics of Welded Pipe Mills Favored by Vietnam and Thailand Markets

The ongoing infrastructure boom in Southeast Asia has seen Vietnam and Thailand emerge as regional economic powerhouses, with continuous expansion in expressways, residential construction, and industrial facilities. According to data from the General Administration of Customs, China's export volume of welded pipe mills to Vietnam and Thailand increased by 32% and 28% year-on-year in 2023. In-depth analysis of export statistics and customer feedback reveals three distinct characteristics dominating local demand for welded pipe mills.

I. 380V Voltage Adaptation: A Hard Requirement for Seamless Integration with Local Power Grids

Vietnam and Thailand's industrial power grids uniformly adopt the 380V/50Hz standard, but voltage fluctuations are prominent. Field measurements in industrial zones of Ho Chi Minh City and Bangkok show voltage fluctuations ranging from ±15%. Export data indicates that welded pipe mills adapted to 380V voltage account for over 85% of the market share in Vietnam and Thailand, while European and American equipment requiring external transformers has a market acceptance rate of less than 10% due to high additional costs and poor stability.

Take the ZY32 welded pipe mill as an example, equipped with an ABB wide-voltage frequency converter (input range 320-450V) and built-in harmonic filter. In field tests in Bangkok's industrial zone, even with voltage fluctuations of ±12%, the mill maintained operational stability with production speed fluctuations <1.5%, and energy consumption was 18% lower than non-adapted models. This native adaptation design not only saves enterprises 10-15% in initial costs for purchasing transformers but also reduces equipment failure frequency caused by unstable voltage, shortening annual downtime by 60%.

II. Small-Diameter Thin-Wall Pipe Forming: Core Demand in Construction and Decoration Sectors

With the acceleration of urbanization in Vietnam and Thailand, demand for small-diameter thin-wall welded pipes in the construction and decoration industry has surged. Data shows that orders for welded pipe mills in the 规格 (specifications) of φ8-φ38mm and wall thickness 0.6-1.8mm account for over 70% of export volumes to both countries. Among these, the φ16-φ25mm specifications for interior decoration pipes, furniture frames, and bathroom hardware have an annual demand growth rate of 25%.

The ZY20 mill, with its double-radius pass design and 7-roll leveling device, accurately forms pipes ranging from φ10-φ26mm in diameter and 0.4-1.5mm in wall thickness, with roundness error controlled within ±0.08mm and surface roughness Ra≤1.6μm. In practical applications at a Vietnamese furniture manufacturer, this mill achieved a 97% yield rate for φ19mm furniture pipes, a 15% improvement over traditional models. The side-pull roll changing structure supports specification switching within 15 minutes, perfectly matching the "small-batch, multi-specification" production model preferred in Southeast Asia.

III. Localized Service Response: The Decisive Factor for Market Capture

Southeast Asian customers place great emphasis on after-sales service response speed. Surveys show that each 1-hour reduction in service response time increases customer repurchase intention by 12%. Our company has established dual spare parts centers in Binh Duong Province, Vietnam, and Rayong Province, Thailand, stocking over 200 types of vulnerable parts such as Harbin-Wafangdian bearings and T12A blades, and formed a service team composed of local engineers.

Statistics show that the average response time for equipment failures is 2.5 hours, far lower than the industry average of 8 hours. In a Thai infrastructure project, when the ZY45 mill experienced a sudden welding system failure, local engineers arrived on-site within 2 hours with pre-stocked spare parts and completed repairs within 4 hours, helping the enterprise avoid daily shutdown losses of approximately 300,000 Thai baht. This high-efficiency service has achieved a 92% customer satisfaction rate in Vietnam and Thailand, with a 40% increase in referral rates.

In the context of the continuing Southeast Asian infrastructure boom, welded pipe mills that deeply adapt to local power grids, focus on core product demands, and strengthen localized services are becoming the "golden key" to unlocking the Vietnam and Thailand markets. In the future, as regional infrastructure evolves toward high-endization, demands for intelligence and energy efficiency in welded pipe mills will gradually emerge. Pre-emptive layout of technological upgrades and service networks will help enterprises continue to lead in this blue ocean market.

Zhangjiagang Zhongyue Metallurgy Equipment Technology Co., Ltd, based in Zhangjiagang, China, pioneers precision metallurgical equipment manufacturing. With 150+ annual productions, our high-frequency welded pipe mills and H-beam lines empower automotive, medical, and renewable energy industries. Committed to R&D excellence and customer-centric innovation, we drive smart manufacturing evolution globally.