France, Italy, and Austria Drive the European Railroad Rail Market

IndexBox has just published a new report: 'EU - Railway Or Tramway Track Construction Material Of Iron Or Steel - Market Analysis, Forecast, Size, Trends and Insights'. Here is a summary of the report's key findings.

In 2019, the EU market for railway or tramway track construction material of iron or steel increased by 1.9% to $3.1B, rising for the third consecutive year after two years of decline. Overall, consumption continues to indicate a relatively flat trend pattern. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2017 with an increase of 9% against the previous year. Over the period under review, the market hit record highs at $3.7B in 2008; however, from 2009 to 2019, consumption remained at a lower figure.

Consumption by Country

The countries with the highest volumes of consumption of railway or tramway track construction material of iron or steel in 2019 were France (463K tons), Italy (434K tons) and Germany (369K tons), together accounting for 40% of total consumption. These countries were followed by the UK, Poland, Austria, Spain, the Netherlands, Romania, Belgium, the Czech Republic and Luxembourg, which together accounted for a further 52%.

From 2007 to 2019, the most notable rate of growth in terms of consumption of railway or tramway track construction material of iron or steel, amongst the main consuming countries, was attained by France, Italy, and Austria, while consumption of railway or tramway track construction material of iron or steel for the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

In value terms, the largest iron and steel railway construction materials markets in the European Union were France ($601M), Italy ($506M) and Germany ($333M), together accounting for 47% of the total market. These countries were followed by Spain, Austria, Poland, the Netherlands, Romania, Belgium, Luxembourg, the Czech Republic and the UK, which together accounted for a further 43%.

In 2019, the highest levels of per capita consumption of railway or tramway track construction material of iron or steel were registered in Luxembourg (108 kg per person), followed by Austria (30 kg per person), Belgium (9.15 kg per person) and the Netherlands (8.78 kg per person), while the world average per capita consumption of iron and steel railway construction materials was estimated at 6.13 kg per person.

From 2007 to 2019, the average annual growth rate of the per capita consumption of railway or tramway track construction material of iron or steel in Luxembourg totaled -3.5%. In the other countries, the average annual rates were as follows: Austria (+14.8% per year) and Belgium (+0.2% per year).

Production in the EU

In 2019, production of railway or tramway track construction material of iron or steel increased by 1.4% to 3.2M tons, rising for the second consecutive year after two years of decline. Overall, production, however, continues to indicate a relatively flat trend pattern. In value terms, production of railway or tramway track construction material of iron or steel expanded remarkably to $5.4B in 2019 estimated at export prices.

Production by Country

The countries with the highest volumes of production of railway or tramway track construction material of iron or steel in 2019 were Austria (718K tons), Poland (406K tons) and Spain (387K tons), with a combined 48% share of total production.

From 2007 to 2019, the most notable rate of growth in terms of production of railway or tramway track construction material of iron or steel, amongst the main producing countries, was attained by Poland, while the production of railway or tramway track construction material of iron or steel for the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

Imports in the EU

For the third consecutive year, the European Union recorded growth in overseas purchases of railway or tramway track construction material of iron or steel, which increased by 4.9% to 1.4M tons in 2019. Total imports indicated a temperate increase from 2007 to 2019: its volume increased at an average annual rate of +2.2% over the last twelve-year period. The trend pattern, however, indicated some noticeable fluctuations being recorded throughout the analyzed period. Based on 2019 figures, imports increased by +32.8% against 2016 indices. Over the period under review, imports attained the peak figure in 2019 and are likely to see gradual growth in years to come. In value terms, imports of railway or tramway track construction material of iron or steel dropped to $1.3B (IndexBox estimates) in 2019.

Imports by Country

In 2019, Germany (314K tons), distantly followed by Italy (173K tons), France (155K tons), the UK (118K tons), Poland (88K tons) and Belgium (86K tons) were the major importers of railway or tramway track construction material of iron or steel, together creating 69% of total imports. The Czech Republic (59K tons), Sweden (55K tons), Spain (55K tons), the Netherlands (35K tons), Hungary (33K tons) and Portugal (27K tons) occupied a minor share of total imports.

From 2007 to 2019, the most notable rate of growth in terms of purchases, amongst the leading importing countries, was attained by Italy, while imports for the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

In value terms, Germany ($271M), Italy ($201M) and France ($126M) appeared to be the countries with the highest levels of imports in 2019, with a combined 45% share of total imports.

Import Prices by Country

The import price for railway or tramway track construction material of iron or steel in the European Union stood at $993 per ton in 2019, falling by -11.2% against the previous year. Over the period under review, the import price showed a mild curtailment.

There were significant differences in the average prices amongst the major importing countries. In 2019, the country with the highest price was Hungary ($1,402 per ton), while the UK ($655 per ton) was amongst the lowest.

From 2007 to 2019, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was attained by Hungary, while the other leaders experienced a decline in the import price figures.

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Source: IndexBox Market Intelligence Platform