MAN Industries is strengthening its global position in the large-diameter pipe segment through strategic expansion, international partnerships and technology-driven initiatives. In an exclusive interaction with Tube & Pipe India, Mr. Nikhil Mansukhani, Managing Director, MAN Industries (INDIA) Ltd., discusses the company’s acquisition of National Pipe Company (NPC) in Saudi Arabia, which has expanded its manufacturing footprint in the GCC and enhanced its access to major energy infrastructure projects. He also highlights the significance of the five-year MoU with Aramco Asia India, Qatar Energy LNG vendor approval, and the upcoming stainless steel seamless pipe facility in Jammu. Mr. Mansukhani shares insights on demand growth across gas transmission, water infrastructure and city gas distribution, the company’s export-led strategy, capacity expansion plans, hydrogen-ready pipe capabilities, and its focus on operational efficiency, sustainability and supply-chain resilience to drive long-term growth.
Tube & Pipe India: MAN Industries recently acquired National Pipe Company (NPC) in Saudi Arabia for nearly INR 1,000 crore. How does this acquisition strengthen your global manufacturing footprint, and what synergies do you expect between the Indian and Middle East operations?
Nikhil Mansukhani: The acquisition of NPC transforms MAN Industries from a leading domestic manufacturer into a global player. For approximately USD 102 million, we have acquired an operational business with both HSAW and LSAW capabilities in Saudi Arabia, giving us in-country manufacturing presence in the GCC at a time when major national oil companies are executing multi-decade pipeline infrastructure programs. On synergies, we expect value creation across three areas: procurement efficiencies leveraging MAN’s sourcing scale; technical prowess, with MAN’s three decades of experience; and commercial upside through a product portfolio that addresses a wider range of project specifications across high-growth Saudi and GCC markets. The acquisition is immediately earning accretive.
TPI: The company has signed a five-year MoU with Aramco Asia India and also secured vendor approval from Qatar Energy LNG. How are these developments expected to enhance MAN Industries’ participation in upcoming energy infrastructure projects across the Gulf region?
NM: These milestones meaningfully strengthen our positioning within the Gulf’s energy ecosystem. The five-year MoU with Aramco Asia India establishes a structured engagement framework with one of the world’s largest energy companies, opening avenues for preferred supplier status across Aramco’s extensive pipeline procurement programs. The vendor approval from Qatar Energy LNG, meanwhile, makes us eligible to participate in one of the most capital-intensive LNG infrastructure buildouts currently underway globally.
Taken together with our NPC acquisition, it gave us the market access advantage in the GCC, an in-country manufacturing presence, a relationship with Saudi Arabia’s national oil company, and approved vendor status with Qatar’s national energy company. This combination positions MAN Industries to pursue larger, more complex project opportunities across oil & gas transmission, LNG, and water infrastructure sectors across the region.
The acquisition of NPC transforms MAN Industries from a leading domestic manufacturer into a global player. For approximately USD 102 million, we have acquired an operational business with both HSAW and LSAW capabilities in Saudi Arabia, giving us in-country manufacturing presence in the GCC at a time when major national oil companies are executing multi-decade pipeline infrastructure programs
TPI: The Jammu stainless steel seamless pipe facility is scheduled for commissioning by FY27. What strategic opportunities do you see in the seamless pipe segment, and how will this project diversify MAN Industries’ product portfolio beyond line pipes?
NM: The Jammu facility represents a deliberate strategic move to extend MAN Industries’ addressable market well beyond large-diameter line pipes. Stainless steel seamless pipes serve a fundamentally different and complementary customer base spanning oil & gas upstream and downstream, power generation, petrochemicals, pharmaceuticals, and precision engineering segments characterised by higher value-addition, stricter specifications, and stronger margin profiles compared to commodity line pipe.
Strategically, this positions MAN on a path towards becoming a comprehensive steel pipe solutions provider rather than a single-segment manufacturer. The timing is also well-considered: domestic demand for seamless pipes is growing as India’s manufacturing and energy sectors scale up, and import substitution remains a significant opportunity given the current dependence on overseas supply for certain grades and specifications.
From a portfolio diversification standpoint, the Jammu plant adds stainless steel and alloy grade capabilities to our existing carbon steel HSAW and LSAW product range broadening both our customer relationships and our ability to participate in multi-product project tenders.
TPI: India is witnessing significant investments in gas transmission, water transportation and city gas distribution networks. How do you see demand evolving across these segments, and which end-markets are likely to drive the next phase of growth for the pipe industry?
NM: India’s energy transition and infrastructure build-out create a compelling multi-year demand backdrop for large-diameter pipes. Across gas transmission, GAIL and other pipeline operators are expanding the national gas grid significantly, with several trunk pipeline projects in various stages of tendering. City gas distribution networks continue to scale rapidly as CGD licensees roll out last-mile connectivity across new geographical areas. On the water side, national missions around Jal Jeevan and urban water supply are driving sustained ordering for water transmission pipelines across states.
Structurally, we believe gas transmission and water infrastructure will be the two dominant demand drivers over the next three to five years, supported by government-backed capex programs with high visibility. Industrial corridors and petrochemical clusters add a further layer of opportunity. For MAN Industries, our ability to serve across HSAW, LSAW and ERW specifications, combined with our domestic and now GCC manufacturing footprint, positions us well to capture a meaningful share of this expanding opportunity set.
From a portfolio diversification standpoint, the Jammu plant adds stainless steel and alloy grade capabilities to our existing carbon steel HSAW and LSAW product range broadening both our customer relationships and our ability to participate in multi-product project tenders.
TPI: MAN Industries has consistently expanded its manufacturing capabilities, including ERW and spiral pipe capacities in recent years. What are your current capacity utilisation levels, and do you foresee the need for further brownfield or greenfield expansions over the next few years?
NM: Our domestic facilities are operating at healthy utilisation levels, underpinned by a strong order book and robust demand across both Indian and export markets. The immediate priority is optimising throughput across our existing asset base including the NPC facility in Saudi Arabia, which adds meaningful incremental capacity and broadens our product range.
On future expansion, our approach is demand-led and disciplined. We will evaluate brownfield opportunities at existing sites where incremental capex can deliver disproportionate capacity or capability gains. Greenfield investments, if pursued, will be anchored to specific market opportunities whether in new geographies or product segments where we have sufficient demand visibility to justify the commitment. Capital allocation will remain guided by return thresholds and our broader balance sheet priorities.
In the near term, the focus is on sweating existing assets, integrating NPC, and converting our strong pipeline of inquiries into executable orders before committing to the next leg of physical expansion.
Structurally, we believe gas transmission and water infrastructure will be the two dominant demand drivers over the next three to five years, supported by government-backed capex programs with high visibility. Industrial corridors and petrochemical clusters add a further layer of opportunity.
TPI: The company has highlighted hydrogen pipe testing as part of its technology roadmap. How do you view the long-term opportunity for hydrogen transportation infrastructure, and what preparations is MAN Industries making to cater to this emerging market?
NM: Hydrogen is expected to play a pivotal role in the global energy transition, creating substantial long-term opportunities for pipeline infrastructure. At MAN Industries, we are proactively building capabilities to support this emerging market. A key milestone was the successful testing of our pipes for hydrogen transportation by RINA Consulting – Centro Sviluppo Materiali S.p.A. (CSM), Italy, a globally recognised testing and certification organisation. The results confirmed that our pipes meet stringent international standards for the safe transport of hydrogen gas. Alongside this achievement, we continue to evaluate evolving technologies and standards to ensure our products remain future-ready for hydrogen infrastructure projects worldwide.
TPI: With a standalone order book of around INR 3,000 crore and a strong international presence across more than 30 countries, how is the order mix evolving between domestic and export markets, and which geographies are currently offering the strongest opportunities?
NM: Historically, exports have accounted for ~80% of our revenues, reflecting MAN Industries’ strong international positioning built over decades. This export-heavy mix is a deliberate strategic choice, and we expect it to continue going forward as global demand for large-diameter line pipes remains robust.
On the export side, the Middle East remains our most significant opportunity, and the NPC acquisition meaningfully accelerates our ability to capture it. Saudi Arabia and the broader GCC are in the midst of large-scale energy and water infrastructure investments, and having an in-country manufacturing presence now gives us a structural advantage in accessing these tenders. Beyond the GCC, we continue to see active inquiry pipelines from Southeast Asia, Africa, the Far East, and Central Asia.
Domestically, gas transmission and water infrastructure continue to be steady demand drivers, supported by government-backed capex programs with strong multi-year visibility providing a reliable base load that complements our international order flow.
Overall, we are confident in sustaining our historically strong export mix while selectively growing domestic participation, resulting in a well-diversified and resilient order book over the medium term.
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TPI: As the pipe industry increasingly focuses on operational efficiency, sustainability and supply-chain resilience, what manufacturing and technology initiatives is MAN Industries implementing to enhance competitiveness and meet evolving customer requirements?
NM: Competitiveness in the large-diameter pipe industry is increasingly determined not just by capacity, but by quality consistency, technology differentiation, and supply-chain reliability — and these are areas where MAN has invested meaningfully over the years.
On the manufacturing side, our focus is on process optimisation and automation to drive throughput efficiency and reduce variability across product specifications. We continue to upgrade our coating capabilities, recognising that advanced external and internal coating solutions are an increasingly important differentiator in project tenders, particularly for corrosive or high-pressure applications.
From a product and technology standpoint, we are actively pursuing hydrogen-ready pipe testing and certification, positioning MAN early in what we believe will be a significant future demand segment as energy transition infrastructure scales up globally. Our NPC facility in Saudi Arabia also provides a platform to develop and deploy advanced coating technologies closer to key end markets.
On supply-chain resilience, we have strengthened our strategic sourcing framework to reduce input cost volatility and improve delivery predictability — both critical factors for customers managing complex, time-sensitive project schedules.
Taken together, these initiatives are designed to ensure MAN Industries remains a preferred supplier of choice across both domestic and international markets as customer requirements continue to evolve.
A key milestone was the successful testing of our pipes for hydrogen transportation by RINA Consulting – Centro Sviluppo Materiali S.p.A. (CSM), Italy, a globally recognised testing and certification organisation. The results confirmed that our pipes meet stringent international standards for the safe transport of hydrogen gas.
