Industry Definition and Applications
Pipeline cameras (also known as pipeline inspection cameras, CCTV pipeline endoscopes) are used for non-excavation detection of internal defects in drainage/ water supply/ industrial pipelines, etc. Typically composed of a waterproof camera probe, extendable push rod/cable, monitor and control system, they support video recording, defect labeling, distance measurement and playback, and are widely applied in municipal, industrial, construction, emergency and other scenarios. The global market has maintained steady growth in recent years, reaching approximately 4.5 billion US dollars in 2022, and is expected to hit 6.8 billion US dollars by 2027 (with a CAGR of about 8%). In terms of application structure, municipal engineering accounts for about 40%, industrial production about 30%, construction about 20%, and others about 10%.
Chinese Market and Competitive Landscape
Chinese Market and Competitive Landscape
The size of the Chinese market was approximately 3.5 billion RMB in 2022, and is projected to reach about 5.6 billion RMB by 2027 (with a CAGR of about 9.8%). The domestic market presents an oligopolistic competition pattern: Hikvision accounts for about 30%, Dahua Technology about 22%, and the rest is divided among small and medium-sized enterprises. The upstream of the industrial chain includes sensor chips (e.g., Sony) and high-end lenses (e.g., Zeiss, Nikon), the midstream involves complete machine manufacturing and system integration, and the downstream is dominated by municipal drainage maintenance (>40%). Policy-driven advancements in the quality and efficiency improvement of urban sewage treatment and the informatization of underground pipe networks have brought sustained demand growth for inspection equipment.
Key Industrial Chain Points and Supply-Demand Characteristics
Key Industrial Chain Points and Supply-Demand Characteristics
Supply side: As of the end of 2022, there were more than 200 domestic enterprises specializing in pipeline camera manufacturing, with an annual production capacity of about 500,000 units; Suzhou, Jiangsu is the largest production base, accounting for about 40% of national output. Over the past five years, driven by scale expansion and supply chain optimization, the average production cost of the industry has decreased by about 25%.
Demand side: Municipal engineering is the largest user, with over 100,000 units of equipment used in projects in 2021, and is expected to maintain an annual growth rate of ~15% in the next three years; industrial inspection procurement increased by about 20% year-on-year in the first half of 2022; sales of civil drainage detection for individuals exceeded 50,000 units in 2022, becoming a new growth point.
