U.S. Railway Goods Wagon Exports

In 2023, shipments abroad of railway or tramway goods vans and wagons (not self-propelled) decreased by -29.6% to 7.3K units for the first time since 2020, thus ending a two-year rising trend. Over the period under review, exports, however, enjoyed a notable expansion. The pace of growth was the most pronounced in 2019 with an increase of 95% against the previous year. As a result, the exports attained the peak of 12K units. From 2020 to 2023, the growth of the exports remained at a somewhat lower figure.

In value terms, railway goods wagon exports reduced dramatically to $500M (IndexBox estimates) in 2023. In general, exports, however, enjoyed a temperate increase. The pace of growth was the most pronounced in 2019 when exports increased by 140%. As a result, the exports attained the peak of $1B. From 2020 to 2023, the growth of the exports remained at a lower figure.

Read also: August 2023 Sees a $537M Surge in Export of Packaging Materials From the United States

Exports by Country

Mexico (5.8K units) was the main destination for railway goods wagon exports from the United States, with a 79% share of total exports. Moreover, railway goods wagon exports to Mexico exceeded the volume sent to the second major destination, Canada (1.3K units), fivefold.

From 2013 to 2023, the average annual growth rate of volume to Mexico amounted to +16.7%. Exports to the other major destinations recorded the following average annual rates of exports growth: Canada (-10.0% per year) and Saudi Arabia (-9.0% per year).

In value terms, Mexico ($248M), Canada ($224M) and Saudi Arabia ($28M) appeared to be the largest markets for railway goods wagon exported from the United States worldwide, together accounting for 100% of total exports.

Mexico, with a CAGR of +15.2%, saw the highest rates of growth with regard to the value of exports, in terms of the main countries of destination over the period under review, while shipments for the other leaders experienced mixed trend patterns.

Export Prices by Country

In 2023, the railway goods wagon price amounted to $74,835 per unit (FOB, US), reducing by -4.3% against the previous year. In general, the export price saw a relatively flat trend pattern. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2019 when the average export price increased by 23%. Over the period under review, the average export prices hit record highs at $94,692 per unit in 2016; however, from 2017 to 2023, the export prices remained at a lower figure.

There were significant differences in the average prices for the major external markets. In 2023, amid the top suppliers, the country with the highest price was Canada ($175,610 per unit), while the average price for exports to Mexico ($42,779 per unit) was amongst the lowest.

From 2013 to 2023, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was recorded for supplies to Saudi Arabia (+10.2%), while the prices for the other major destinations experienced mixed trend patterns.

Source: IndexBox Market Intelligence Platform