Product intelligence · HS 730230 · 2024 data

Iron or steel, railway or tramway track construction material: switch blades, crossing frogs, point rods and other crossing pieces

Global exports of iron or steel, railway or tramway track construction material: switch blades, crossing frogs, point rods and other crossing pieces totalled $765,707,783 in 2024, a +16.3% change from the previous year. Traded by 93 countries across 969 bilateral corridors, with demand from 158 importing markets. The long-term trend is growing.

Data: OECD BIMTS · Coverage: 19952024 · Updated: 2026-07-17

Global trade

$765.7M

+16.3% YoY

3Y / 5Y CAGR

+7.5%

5Y: +6.0%

Supply structure

Diversified

HHI 0.079

Volatility

Low

Score 13/100

1.

Market movement

In 2024, iron or steel, railway or tramway track construction material: switch blades, crossing frogs, point rods and other crossing pieces trade exhibited strong growth, with global flows reaching $765,707,783 and a three-year compound annual growth rate of +7.5% (five-year: +6.0%). The all-time peak of $765,707,783 was recorded in 2024.

Over the 30-year observation window (19952024), 62% of years recorded positive growth, indicating a mildly upward trajectory with periodic contractions. Trend momentum is strengthening (+3.8% acceleration).

The World Trade Flows Characterization classifies iron or steel, railway or tramway track construction material: switch blades, crossing frogs, point rods and other crossing pieces as "One-way trade" in the low price range price segment, providing additional context for market positioning and competitive dynamics.

2.

Supply & demand structure

The supply side is diversified (Herfindahl-Hirschman Index 0.079). The three largest exporters — France ($123.0M), China ($81.7M), and Austria ($79.2M) — collectively dominate supply flows. The leading exporter has grown at +15.5% over the last three years.

On the demand side, importer concentration is diversified (HHI 0.043). The three largest import markets are Germany ($76.9M), Italy ($70.5M), and Switzerland ($55.2M). The largest importing market sources from 27 different supplying countries.

Estimated substitution elasticity: -29.59. Buyers are highly price-sensitive and can switch between suppliers relatively easily.

The dominant trade corridor is Poland → Germany at $40.5M, representing 52.7% of the importer's total demand.

3.

Risk profile & trade outlook

The volatility score for iron or steel, railway or tramway track construction material: switch blades, crossing frogs, point rods and other crossing pieces is 13 out of 100, classified as low. Trade flows are relatively stable compared to other HS6 products, suggesting mature supply chains and predictable demand.

For market entrants, strong demand tailwinds create a favourable entry environment. The diversified supply landscape means many competitors but also multiple entry points and buyer relationships to target.

Data confidence is rated "High" based on reporting coverage and consistency across OECD member and partner countries.

Historical evidence

Annual trade value 19952024

Peak: $765,707,783 in 2024.

YearGlobal trade (USD)YoY growth
2015$487,091,123-8.4%
2016$457,083,018-6.2%
2017$479,362,591+4.9%
2018$526,238,203+9.8%
2019$571,378,865+8.6%
2020$503,161,459-11.9%
2021$616,272,542+22.5%
2022$560,033,591-9.1%
2023$658,591,802+17.6%
2024$765,707,783+16.3%

Top exporting countries

Ranked by export value of iron or steel, railway or tramway track construction material: switch blades, crossing frogs, point rods and other crossing pieces in 2024.

View all 93 exporters →

Top importing markets

Largest import destinations for iron or steel, railway or tramway track construction material: switch blades, crossing frogs, point rods and other crossing pieces.

View all 158 markets →

Leading trade corridors

Largest bilateral export flows for iron or steel, railway or tramway track construction material: switch blades, crossing frogs, point rods and other crossing pieces, ranked by value. Click any country to view its full profile.

#ExporterImporterValue 20243Y CAGR
1PolandGermany$40.5M+31.1%
2United StatesCanada$37.3M+23.3%
3AustriaSwitzerland$36.7M+7.7%
4FranceItaly$35.4M+31.8%
5LuxembourgFrance$23.3M+50.4%
6SwedenNorway$22.9M+26.4%
7IndiaUnited States$19.6M+10.0%
8FranceSweden$17.6M+32.5%

Showing top 8 of 10 corridors with available data for 2024.

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Sources, definitions & methodology

Data source

OECD Bilateral International Merchandise Trade Statistics (BIMTS). Aggregated from 312M+ reported trade records across 200+ countries and 5,300+ HS6 product codes. Coverage: 19952024.

Key indicators

HHI (Herfindahl-Hirschman Index): market concentration, 0 = fully diversified, 1 = single player. CAGR: compound annual growth rate over a stated period. Volatility score: trade value variability, 0–100 scale.

How this page is made

All statistical content on this page is data-driven, composed programmatically from live OECD trade records. No generic AI-generated prose is used. Analytical paragraphs combine real data points with factual interpretation. This page was last refreshed on 2026-07-17.