<p>Centrifugal casting ductile iron pipes hold an irreplaceable position in critical infrastructure such as urban water supply, drainage, and oil and gas transportation due to their high strength, toughness, and long service life. Driven by low-temperature operational requirements and global carbon neutrality targets, current development emphasizes high performance, lightweight design, and environmental adaptability—attracting widespread academic and industrial attention. This paper systematically reviews integrated optimization strategies for high-performance ductile iron, highlighting recent advancements in alloying design, centrifugal casting process control, heat treatment optimization, and casting process intelligence. It focuses on precise alloying element proportioning, analysis of their strengthening effects, and application of multiple linear regression models to quantify interactions affecting matrix properties. The influence of carbon equivalent on graphite morphology is also investigated, revealing the relationship between nodularity, graphite distribution uniformity, and mechanical properties. By optimizing rotational speed and cooling rate during centrifugal casting, the combined use of ProCAST multiphysics simulation facilitates microstructural densification and defect suppression. Heat treatment is further optimized to adjust the pearlite/ferrite ratio under the combined influence of annealing temperature and time. This study establishes a comprehensive synergistic control system covering composition design, microstructure control, process optimization, and performance validation. Combined with practical production experience from Saint-Gobain Pipelines Co. Ltd., it provides a theoretical foundation for developing high-strength ductile iron pipes and a model for industrial implementation.</p> Graphical Abstract <p></p>