Market Trends of United States Irrigation Valves Industry
This section covers the major market trends shaping the US Irrigation Valves Market according to our research experts:
Plastic Valves to Hold Significant Market Share
- Plastic valves have become increasingly popular for specific agricultural and non-agricultural applications. One of the most significant advantages of plastic valves is that they do not typically corrode when exposed to saline or acidic water. This factor is essential in irrigation systems that frequently apply fertigation and chemigation by the water or use alternative water sources. Additionally, it is significant for systems that often apply fertilizers and chemicals with water. Standard metals like ductile iron eventually corrode under acidic conditions. Plastics, on the other hand, can tolerate high and low pH and are chemically inert.
- Coming to cost considerations, plastics are the material of choice. The raw material and the manufacturing process are more cost competitive than metal. Because of their lower weight, plastics also cost much less to transport. Plastic valves are lighter and easier to handle during installation. Because of their smooth interior surface and lack of corrosion, they are less prone to sediment build-up and are usually virtually maintenance-free. Such factors drive the demand for these valves across the agricultural sector.
- Several vendors offer plastic valves for agricultural and related industries. The increasing demand encourages these vendors to develop new products, catering to various agricultural use cases. For instance, Aptar, a U.S.-based manufacturer of valves, launched the SimpliCycle TPE-S valve, which was approved as sustainable by RecyClass in September 2022.
- Irrigation is a vital part of the U.S. agricultural economy. Agriculture is a significant user of ground and surface water in the United States. Recently, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, there were over 2 million farms in the United States. However, increasing competition for water supplies, declining groundwater reserves, and shifts in climatic conditions and hydrologic flows are taxing the ability of regional water systems to meet irrigation needs in the United States, which is expected to drive the demand for plastic irrigation valves.
Understand The Key Trends Shaping This Market
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Agricultural applications to Hold Significant Market Share
- Among the application areas, agricultural applications are among the major consumer of irrigation valves. The Presence of vast arable land and some of the biggest and most advanced farms in the United States drives the demand for irrigation valves. According to USDA, in 2021, Texas was the leading state with about 2,47,000 farms, followed by Missouri (95,000), and Iowa (84,900).
- The increasing per capita food consumption is driving investments to ensure sufficient availability of food materials in the country. According to USDA, about 89.8% of U.S. households were food secure throughout the year in 2021, while 3.8% of U.S. households had very low food security.
- The butterfly valve is one of the most often utilized valves in agricultural applications. These valves provide several benefits over other valves, including simplicity of use, extended operational life, reduced pressure drop, lightweight, compact size, and lower cost. One of the main factors influencing the butterfly valve demand in agricultural applications is that these valves are typically roughly 40% less expensive than iron gate valves.
- Increasing investments in agricultural applications are also driving the demand for irrigation valves . For instance, ifor agricultural applications. For instance, in November 2022, the Government of the United States allocated over USD 47 million to a new project that would provide on-site water infrastructure to 260 food-producing community gardens under the jurisdiction of NYC Parks in Bronx, Kings, New York, Queens, and Richmond counties. Recently, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Texas was by far the leading U.S. state in the total number of farms,
