Germany: Railway Sleeper Market 2025

Railway Sleeper Market Size in Germany

The German railway sleeper market amounted to $X in 2021, growing by 3.5% against the previous year. In general, consumption continues to indicate a relatively flat trend pattern. Railway sleeper consumption peaked at $X in 2013; however, from 2014 to 2021, consumption failed to regain momentum.

Railway Sleeper Production in Germany

In value terms, railway sleeper production rose to $X in 2021 estimated in export price. In general, production, however, recorded a relatively flat trend pattern. The pace of growth was the most pronounced in 2020 with an increase of 33% against the previous year. Over the period under review, production reached the maximum level at $X in 2013; however, from 2014 to 2021, production stood at a somewhat lower figure.

Railway Sleeper Exports

Exports from Germany

In 2019, shipments abroad of railway or tramway sleepers (cross-ties) of wood was finally on the rise to reach X cubic meters for the first time since 2016, thus ending a two-year declining trend. Over the period under review, exports, however, continue to indicate a deep downturn. The growth pace was the most rapid in 2016 when exports increased by 49% against the previous year. As a result, the exports reached the peak of X cubic meters. From 2017 to 2019, the growth of the exports remained at a somewhat lower figure.

In value terms, railway sleeper exports fell to $X in 2019. Overall, exports, however, showed a abrupt curtailment. The pace of growth was the most pronounced in 2016 when exports increased by 49% against the previous year. As a result, the exports reached the peak of $X. From 2017 to 2019, the growth of the exports remained at a somewhat lower figure.

Exports by Country

Egypt (X cubic meters), the UK (X cubic meters) and Austria (X cubic meters) were the main destinations of railway sleeper exports from Germany, with a combined 55% share of total exports.

From 2012 to 2019, the biggest increases were recorded for Egypt (with a CAGR of +91.7%), while shipments for the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

In value terms, Switzerland ($X), Austria ($X) and Croatia ($X) constituted the largest markets for railway sleeper exported from Germany worldwide, together accounting for 64% of total exports. These countries were followed by Egypt, Norway, the UK, Slovenia, Belgium and Spain, which together accounted for a further 15%.

Among the main countries of destination, Egypt, with a CAGR of +49.3%, saw the highest rates of growth with regard to the value of exports, over the period under review, while shipments for the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

Export Prices by Country

The average railway sleeper export price stood at $X per cubic meter in 2019, dropping by -35.4% against the previous year. Over the period under review, the export price showed a abrupt contraction. The growth pace was the most rapid in 2014 when the average export price increased by 34%. As a result, the export price attained the peak level of $X per cubic meter. From 2015 to 2019, the average export prices failed to regain momentum.

There were significant differences in the average prices for the major overseas markets. In 2019, the country with the highest price was Switzerland ($X per cubic meter), while the average price for exports to Belgium ($X per cubic meter) was amongst the lowest.

From 2012 to 2019, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was recorded for supplies to Switzerland (+2.5%), while the prices for the other major destinations experienced a decline.

Railway Sleeper Imports

Imports into Germany

For the fifth year in a row, Germany recorded decline in purchases abroad of railway or tramway sleepers (cross-ties) of wood, which decreased by -13.7% to X cubic meters in 2019. Overall, imports saw a abrupt decline. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2014 when imports increased by 96%. As a result, imports attained the peak of X cubic meters. From 2015 to 2019, the growth of imports remained at a somewhat lower figure.

In value terms, railway sleeper imports shrank to $X in 2019. In general, imports saw a pronounced reduction. The growth pace was the most rapid in 2014 with an increase of 22% against the previous year. Imports peaked at $X in 2012; however, from 2013 to 2019, imports remained at a lower figure.

Imports by Country

In 2019, France (X cubic meters) constituted the largest railway sleeper supplier to Germany, accounting for a 45% share of total imports. Moreover, railway sleeper imports from France exceeded the figures recorded by the second-largest supplier, Poland (X cubic meters), twofold. The third position in this ranking was held by Switzerland (X cubic meters), with a 16% share.

From 2012 to 2019, the average annual rate of growth in terms of volume from France stood at -10.1%. The remaining supplying countries recorded the following average annual rates of imports growth: Poland (+63.5% per year) and Switzerland (+33.2% per year).

In value terms, France ($X) constituted the largest supplier of railway or tramway sleepers (cross-ties) of wood to Germany, comprising 58% of total imports. The second position in the ranking was held by Switzerland ($X), with a 12% share of total imports. It was followed by Poland, with an 11% share.

From 2012 to 2019, the average annual rate of growth in terms of value from France amounted to -6.7%. The remaining supplying countries recorded the following average annual rates of imports growth: Switzerland (+28.9% per year) and Poland (+52.4% per year).

Import Prices by Country

In 2019, the average railway sleeper import price amounted to $X per cubic meter, with an increase of 9.5% against the previous year. Overall, import price indicated a mild increase from 2012 to 2019: its price increased at an average annual rate of +1.5% over the last seven-year period. The trend pattern, however, indicated some noticeable fluctuations being recorded throughout the analyzed period. Based on 2019 figures, railway sleeper import price increased by +117.4% against 2014 indices. The pace of growth was the most pronounced in 2016 when the average import price increased by 62% against the previous year. Over the period under review, average import prices reached the maximum in 2019 and is expected to retain growth in the near future.

Prices varied noticeably country of origin: the country with the highest price was France ($X per cubic meter), while the price for Austria ($X per cubic meter) was amongst the lowest.

From 2012 to 2019, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was attained by the Netherlands (+21.8%), while the prices for the other major suppliers experienced more modest paces of growth.

Source: IndexBox Platform

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