In its most recent freight car building report the Economic Planning Associates (EPA) said it expects orders this year to fall to around 50,000 cars, down from 2012’s 58,900, then in 2014 rebound strongly and experience steady growth through 2018. EPA estimates that railcar deliveries will rebound to 59,800 cars in 2014, then increase to 63,500 in 2015 and finally 66,500 in 2018.
Due to the ever increasing volumes of oil and petroleum products being transported, tank cars will continue to be the dominant force in overall demand. In the second quarter of 2012 tank cars accounted for 83.5% of the total orders, 58.3% in the third quarter and 61.8% of the orders in the fourth quarter.
