Electrical Cable Conduits (Only Metal Made) Market Size

Electrical Cable Conduits (Only Metal Made) Market Overview

The Electrical Cable Conduits (Only Metal Made)Market size was valued at USD 3643.1 million in 2024 and is expected to reach USD 5414.04 million by 2033, growing at a CAGR of 4.5% from 2025 to 2033.

The global Electrical Cable Conduits (Only Metal Made) Market plays a critical role in modern infrastructure by ensuring robust, fire-resistant, and corrosion-resistant pathways for electrical wiring. In 2024, over 58 million meters of metal cable conduits were utilized across industrial and commercial sectors, signifying their extensive demand in harsh and high-temperature environments.

Among these, rigid metallic conduits (RMC) accounted for approximately 36 million meters, especially in power plants and utility networks. The use of metal conduits has increased due to rising construction activities in smart cities, with China alone initiating over 4100 new infrastructural projects involving metallic conduits in urban planning.

Demand for EMT (Electrical Metallic Tubing) in commercial construction rose by 21% in 2023, fueled by the increasing need for electromagnetic shielding in high-voltage installations. Furthermore, safety regulations mandating metal conduits for critical infrastructures, including airports and hospitals, have contributed to the high consumption, especially in North America and Europe.

The market is witnessing increased integration of zinc-coated galvanized steel and stainless steel variants, which offer enhanced resistance to corrosion and mechanical stress, contributing to their rising preference in underground cabling and oil and gas facilities.

Key Findings

DRIVER: Increasing demand for secure, durable, and fire-resistant conduit systems in critical infrastructure projects.

COUNTRY/REGION: Asia-Pacific leads the market, with China and India contributing over 44% of the global metal conduit consumption.

SEGMENT: Rigid metal conduits dominate, with over 61% market share due to their high strength and industrial utility.

Electrical Cable Conduits (Only Metal Made) Market Trends

In 2023 and 2024, the Electrical Cable Conduits (Only Metal Made) Market observed notable shifts driven by construction booms and industrial electrification. Over 122 million square meters of commercial buildings worldwide were wired using metal conduits in 2023, a 13% increase from 2022. In the U.S. alone, over 1.9 million commercial units adopted EMT and RMC solutions, largely due to NFPA compliance and fire-resistant standards. A major trend includes the shift towards eco-friendly galvanized steel, used in over 27% of total conduit installations in Europe in 2024. This reflects a transition from PVC to recyclable materials. The demand for stainless steel conduits has surged by 18% in hazardous locations such as chemical plants and underground mines. Urban infrastructure projects in emerging economies are also driving the trend. India’s smart city mission integrated metallic conduits in over 3100 km of electrical cabling in 2023. Meanwhile, Europe’s retrofit programs led to a 19% year-on-year increase in metal conduit retrofitting. Rising investment in data centers, which deployed over 9 million meters of EMI-shielded metallic conduits in 2024, indicates robust future demand.

Electrical Cable Conduits (Only Metal Made) Market Dynamics

The dynamics of the Electrical Cable Conduits (Only Metal Made) Market are shaped by a convergence of industrial safety standards, infrastructure development, and technological innovation. In 2024, over 64% of industrial construction projects across the U.S., Germany, and Japan incorporated metallic conduit systems due to their enhanced fire resistance, mechanical durability, and electromagnetic shielding capabilities. These systems are critical in environments such as hospitals, airports, data centers, and manufacturing plants, where protection of wiring infrastructure is paramount.

DRIVER

Rapid industrial and urban infrastructure expansion.

Metallic conduits have become a standard in modern construction and industrial wiring systems due to their robust protection against external damage. In 2023, over 68% of high-rise buildings above 20 floors in urban cities integrated galvanized steel conduits. The energy and utilities sector consumed over 25 million meters of rigid metallic conduits in 2024 to manage underground and overhead cabling systems. Increasing electrification in rural areas has pushed countries like Indonesia and Nigeria to procure over 6 million meters of metallic conduits collectively in 2023. Their superior fire-retardant and mechanical protection properties make them indispensable in critical systems such as hospitals, manufacturing plants, and airports.

RESTRAINT

High installation and material costs.

Despite their durability, the cost of manufacturing and installing metallic conduits remains a key challenge. In 2024, the average cost per meter of stainless steel conduit rose by 14%, driven by rising raw material costs and labor shortages. Moreover, rigid metallic conduits require skilled labor and specialized tools, increasing installation timelines by 22% compared to PVC conduits. Smaller commercial projects and residential installations tend to opt for cheaper alternatives. This cost disparity restricts adoption in low-budget municipal projects, particularly in developing nations.

OPPORTUNITY

Government-backed safety regulations and green certifications.

Globally, over 73 countries updated their building codes in 2023 to mandate fire-rated and impact-resistant wiring conduits in public and commercial buildings. This opens up significant growth potential for metal-only conduits. Initiatives such as the EU’s Green Public Procurement Policy are driving demand for recyclable metal conduits with over 31% of new government buildings adopting certified metal-based wiring systems in 2024. Furthermore, insurance premium reductions of up to 11% for buildings equipped with metal conduits have incentivized adoption in private sectors, especially across banking and healthcare.

CHALLENGE

Supply chain disruptions and steel price volatility.

Fluctuations in global steel prices, with a 23% price increase between Q2 2023 and Q1 2024, have hampered production planning for manufacturers. In addition, logistic disruptions due to geopolitical tensions led to a 21-day average shipment delay for conduit exports from China to Europe. These uncertainties make long-term contracts and inventory forecasting difficult for suppliers and contractors. The industry also faces issues related to environmental compliance, with over 240 product recalls globally due to coating and corrosion failures in 2023.

Electrical Cable Conduits (Only Metal Made) Market Segmentation

The Electrical Cable Conduits (Only Metal Made) Market is segmented by type and application. The type segment includes Flexible Conduits and Rigid Conduits, while applications span IT and Telecommunications, Energy and Utility, Transportation, Industrial Manufacturing, and Others. Rigid conduits dominate with over 61% share due to their extensive use in power-intensive environments. Flexible conduits accounted for 39%, mainly in modular and retrofit installations.

By Type

Flexible Conduits: In 2024, flexible metal conduits saw increased deployment in data centers, accounting for 10.3 million meters worldwide. They are preferred in tight bends and dynamic environments, such as robotics and conveyor systems. Stainless steel variants dominate this category, especially in pharmaceuticals and cleanrooms, representing 32% of flexible conduit demand.
Rigid Conduits: Rigid metallic conduits led the market with usage in industrial and utility applications. The energy sector alone consumed over 25 million meters of RMC in 2023. Zinc-coated galvanized variants were used in 52% of public infrastructure projects in North America, while stainless steel conduits accounted for 17% of RMCs used in corrosive environments like wastewater plants.

By Application

IT and Telecommunications: With the global data center footprint expanding, over 11 million meters of metal conduits were used in cable protection systems in 2024.
Energy and Utility: This segment led demand with over 29% of total conduit installations. Power distribution substations used 7.2 million meters of rigid conduits globally.
Transportation: Airports and metro systems integrated over 4.6 million meters of fire-rated metal conduits in 2023 to meet enhanced safety protocols.
Industrial Manufacturing: Factories and processing plants accounted for over 22% of total demand, with 13 million meters deployed in 2024 alone.
Others: Public facilities, including hospitals and schools, utilized over 8.5 million meters, mainly in Europe and North America.

Regional Outlook for the Electrical Cable Conduits (Only Metal Made) Market

The Electrical Cable Conduits (Only Metal Made) Market demonstrates diverse regional trends, influenced by industrial development levels, building regulations, and infrastructure investments. In Asia-Pacific, the market leads globally with the highest consumption volumes, where China and India collectively accounted for more than 44 million meters of installed metal conduits in 2024. The surge is fueled by rapid urbanization, energy sector expansion, and large-scale smart city programs.

North America

In 2024, North America used over 36 million meters of metal conduits, with the U.S. accounting for 31 million meters. Strict NEC regulations and fire safety mandates drove demand in commercial real estate and utilities. Cities like New York and Toronto saw 12% annual growth in new installations.

Europe

Europe implemented new green building directives leading to over 19 million meters of metallic conduits used in 2024. Germany, the UK, and France collectively accounted for 68% of regional demand. Retrofit programs in the EU led to a 19% increase in stainless steel conduit use.

Asia-Pacific

Asia-Pacific led the global market with over 44 million meters deployed in 2024. China and India together constituted 76% of the region’s demand due to smart city programs and rail electrification. Industrial corridors in Southeast Asia consumed 8.3 million meters in 2023.

Middle East & Africa

Infrastructure modernization in UAE and Saudi Arabia resulted in the usage of 6.7 million meters in 2024. Africa’s emerging urban projects accounted for another 3.1 million meters, with Nigeria and South Africa leading adoption in hospitals and energy plants.

List of Top Electrical Cable Conduits (Only Metal Made) Companies

Atkore
ABB
Legrand
Schneider Electric
Calpipe
Barton Engineering
ZJK
ANAMET ELECTRICAL
Wheatland
Kingland & Pipeline

Atkore: Atkore held the largest market share in 2024, producing over 12.5 million meters of metallic conduits globally, with leading distribution in the U.S. and Canada.

ABB: ABB followed closely, with annual manufacturing capacity exceeding 10.2 million meters, largely focused on energy sector applications across Europe and Asia-Pacific.

Investment Analysis and Opportunities

Global investments in metal conduit production infrastructure crossed $1.2 billion in 2023, with new facilities and R&D centers established across the U.S., Germany, and India. In India alone, three new manufacturing plants opened with an annual capacity of 6 million meters. Increased focus on sustainable manufacturing is encouraging the use of recycled steel and zinc, with 29% of all new conduits in Europe using recycled content in 2024. Governments are also offering tax credits for the installation of fire-rated metallic conduits in public buildings, with the U.S. Department of Energy allocating $45 million in 2023 for hospital upgrades using metal-only wiring systems. Similarly, China’s infrastructure stimulus packages directed over 18% of their funds towards smart electrification projects involving metal conduits. Emerging markets such as Vietnam and Egypt are witnessing annual demand growth of over 14%, offering untapped potential for manufacturers. The trend of pre-wired metallic conduit systems is also opening opportunities for modular construction providers.

New Product Development

Manufacturers are now focusing on lightweight yet durable conduits made from aluminum-alloy coated steel, reducing weight by 25% without compromising on strength. In 2024, Atkore launched a series of hybrid conduits combining flexible and rigid sections for faster installation in confined environments. ABB unveiled corrosion-resistant conduits with polymer-laminated interiors, designed for marine and wastewater treatment applications. Over 5000 km of these conduits were pre-ordered for GCC desalination plants. ZJK introduced color-coded rigid metallic conduits to help in system segregation for industrial control systems, reducing maintenance time by 22%. Calpipe developed magnetic shielding conduits tailored for MRI rooms and semiconductor plants, currently adopted by 17 new hospitals in Europe. Automation-ready conduits embedded with RFID chips for real-time monitoring were also introduced, gaining popularity in large-scale data centers and industrial parks.

Five Recent Developments

Atkore opened a new manufacturing unit in Texas with an annual output of 6.8 million meters, improving distribution in Latin America.
ABB signed a partnership with Siemens to co-develop AI-monitored conduit routing systems for smart buildings.
Legrand introduced a new fire-rated stainless steel conduit with up to 2-hour fire protection, now used in 38 European hospitals.
Schneider Electric integrated IoT sensors in its latest conduit designs, enabling remote thermal diagnostics.
Calpipe was awarded a contract for over 4.2 million meters of metallic conduits for a Saudi Arabian mega-infrastructure project.

Report Coverage of Electrical Cable Conduits (Only Metal Made) Market

This report provides a comprehensive overview of the Electrical Cable Conduits (Only Metal Made) Market, spanning analysis of type and application-based segmentation, regional performance metrics, industry drivers, and manufacturer strategies. Covering over 34 countries, it presents insights on how rigid and flexible metal conduits are being adopted across verticals such as energy, telecom, transport, and industrial automation. It evaluates production volumes, market consumption trends, technology integration, and regulatory influence across four major regions. Special attention is given to material evolution, such as galvanized vs. stainless steel, and design innovation, including modular, color-coded, and sensor-enabled conduits. Investment analysis highlights areas like infrastructure development, smart city electrification, and compliance mandates, supported by data such as installation volumes, project approvals, and product demand share by country and segment. The report also examines competitive dynamics among global players, spotlighting the top two companies that control a significant share of manufacturing and supply. It further details recent product advancements, manufacturing expansions, and strategic collaborations to offer stakeholders a well-rounded industry perspective.