Industry Analysis & Industry Trends
The industry veered off track during the recession as infrastructure expansion slowed and the United States received fewer imports, reducing the need for new railcars. In 2013, industry revenue is expected to finally catch up to its 2008 level, though only briefly. Offshoring production is increasing in the industry because production costs are cheaper in many foreign countries. On top of that, manufacturers are relocating to regions that are rapidly industrializing to tap into those growing markets.... purchase to read more
Industry Report - Industry Key Buyers Chapter
The Railcar Manufacturing industry has a moderate level of concentration, with the top four operators accounting for an estimated 66.2% of industry revenue in 2013. Concentration has increased slightly over the past five years due to the recession, which slowed manufacturing activity across the United States, and decreased the need for transportation services. As such, the demand for new and refurbished railcars fell, forcing many smaller and regional operators to exit the industry. This provided a boost to the market share of some of the industry's major companies; however, growth in concentration was limited, as even the industry's biggest companies were forced to scale back operations amid the economic downturn... purchase to read more