🇺🇸 United States imports of railway freight cars: 2024 trade data
In 2024, the United States imported railway freight cars worth $3.38 billion (467.8 thousand tonnes). That makes it the largest importer of this product worldwide, out of 135 countries. Value rose 809% on 2023. Over 2017-2024 the trade grew strongly, by about 63% a year on average.
Public statistics, latest reported year 2024. Values in US dollars.
Imports of railway freight cars by year, 2017-2024
Hover or tap a year for detail.
Year by year
| Year | Value | Quantity |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $3.38B | 467.8K t |
| 2023 | $371.7M | 88.1K t |
| 2022 | $338.3M | 69.3K t |
| 2021 | $1.38B | 583.3K t |
| 2020 | $123.4M | 65.7K t |
| 2019 | $327.8M | 178.3K t |
| 2018 | $313.3M | 276.4K t |
| 2017 | $108.5M | 93.0K t |
Where the United States imports railway freight cars from
One supplier dominates: Mexico accounted for 92% of the value.
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 🇲🇽 Mexico | $3.09B | 92% |
| 🇨🇦 Canada | $284.5M | 8.4% |
| 🇹🇭 Thailand | $956K | 0% |
| 🇩🇪 Germany | $404K | 0% |
| 🇯🇵 Japan | $306K | 0% |
| 🇿🇦 South Africa | $94K | 0% |
| 🇦🇺 Australia | $56K | 0% |
| 🇨🇳 China | $53K | 0% |
| 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | $17K | 0% |
| 🇫🇷 France | $12K | 0% |
Types of railway freight cars under HS 8606
| 8606.91 | Railway or tramway goods vans and wagons: covered and closed, not self-propelled | 64% |
| 8606.30 | Railway or tramway goods vans and wagons: self-discharging, not self-propelled, excluding those of item no. 8606.10 | 18% |
| 8606.10 | Railway or tramway goods vans and wagons: tank wagons and the like, not self-propelled | 9.5% |
| 8606.92 | Railway or tramway goods vans and wagons: open, with non-removable sides of a height exceeding 60cm, not self-propelled | 8% |
| 8606.99 | Railway or tramway goods vans and wagons: n.e.c. in heading no. 8606, not self-propelled | 0.5% |
Codes and full descriptions: HS heading 8606.
Average import price of railway freight cars
The average declared value was about $7.22 per kg, 48% above the world average of $4.88. This usually points to higher-grade or processed goods.
Declared value divided by weight, all 2024 shipments. Prices per shipment and per company are in EximDataX.
The United States also exports railway freight cars
The United States exported $614.7 million of railway freight cars in 2024 (149.7 thousand tonnes). It ranks 2nd of 83 countries for exports of this product. Mexico alone took 56% of it. Among the main buyer markets, Saudi Arabia grew fastest (+56% on the year before).
| Destination | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 🇲🇽 Mexico | $342.8M | 56% |
| 🇨🇦 Canada | $233.0M | 38% |
| 🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia | $35.7M | 5.8% |
| 🇵🇪 Peru | $2.3M | 0.4% |
| 🇸🇳 Senegal | $553K | 0.1% |
| 🇵🇦 Panama | $59K | 0% |
| 🇰🇷 South Korea | $31K | 0% |
| 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | $23K | 0% |
| 🇨🇱 Chile | $16K | 0% |
| 🇬🇹 Guatemala | $6K | 0% |
Who is behind these numbers in the United States?
Public statistics stop at country totals and the last published year. EximDataX shows the shipment records underneath: the companies, dates, quantities and declared values, updated weekly.
Shipment records are in the platform
Tell us what you trade and we will show you the latest records on a live call.
Direct customs feed: shipment-level records from the official customs source.
Updated weekly on EximDataX (some markets daily), while public statistics stop at 2024.
Source: CEPII BACI (reconciled UN Comtrade data), HS 2017 edition, release 202601, Etalab Open Licence 2.0. Annual values in US dollars at the customs border; quantities in tonnes where reported. HS 8606: Railway or tramway goods vans and wagons; not self-propelled.
Railway freight cars trade in the United States: questions
What is the value of railway freight cars imported by the United States?
The United States imported railway freight cars worth $3.38 billion in 2024 (467.8 thousand tonnes).
Where does the United States import railway freight cars from?
The main supplier countries in 2024 were Mexico (92%), Canada (8%), Thailand (0%).
What is the average import price of railway freight cars in the United States?
The average declared import value was about $7.22 per kg in 2024, against a world average of $4.88 per kg.
Does the United States export railway freight cars?
Yes. The United States exported railway freight cars worth $614.7 million in 2024, mainly to Mexico, Canada, Saudi Arabia.
What is the HS code for railway freight cars?
Railway freight cars falls under HS heading 8606 (Railway or tramway goods vans and wagons; not self-propelled). The six-digit codes under it split the product by type.
How can I find the companies trading railway freight cars with the United States?
These public statistics stop at country level. EximDataX has a direct customs feed for the United States with shipment-level records, updated weekly, where you can see the importers and exporters by name.
Railway freight cars trade in other countries
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