There are more than 1.2 million wheels consumed annually in North America with a market value exceeding $1 billion in a normal market of 40,000 new car builds, plus replacements. During the past two decades, there has been a trend toward the global sourcing of wheels for the North American rail market. Yet, nothing is more critical to rail operations than wheels.

Recent developments with the Russian invasion of Ukraine are frightening. China, with its support for Russia’s aggression, combined with its grand strategy of dominating global rail supply, also raises the question of its true intentions of eliminating the North American supply base. In June 2021, I wrote an article outlining China’s grand ambition to dominate global rail supply, including freight and transit railcars, and their components. Surprisingly, the article proved to be one of Railway Age’s most widely read articles in 2021. We struck a nerve.

Exacerbating the geopolitical risks associated with global sourcing, logistics expenses and logistics impediments such as shipping delays and “port jams” are all part of the calculus. Ships are unable to transport goods in and out of Russia due to a lack of insurance, while containers from China get logjammed at U.S. ports. Will there ever be “normalcy”? And if or when “normalcy” returns, are we going to go running back to China and Russia for wheels?

Wheels into North America

There are 22 AAR-certified wheel plants globally. Of these, 5 are in China, 2 in Russia, 1 in Ukraine, 2 in Brazil, 1 in Canada, 1 in Japan, 1 in France, 1 in Spain, 1 Italy, 1 in the Czech Republic, 1 in Australia, and 5 in the United States. Let’s focus on the two largest importers of wheels into North America: Russia and China.

Russian wheel plants: The two Russian AAR-certified wheel suppliers are Evraz and Vyksa. Evraz is a huge $13 billion steel company with a global presence, but relies predominantly on the Russian market, with revenues of $2.36 billion in North America. Of this total, North American rail component revenues were $392 million in 2021. Most of this revenue comes from the supply of rail and wheels (Evraz enjoys a 48% market share of steel rail in North America, with a plant in Pueblo, Colo.). It should be noted that Evraz does not produce wheels in North America, but includes sales of imported wheels from Russia in its North American revenues.

Roam Abramovich (left) with his purported close friend, Vladimir Putin.

Evraz evolved as a result of the dissolution of the Soviet Union on Dec. 26, 1991, with Roman Abramovich, widely known as a “Russian oligarch,” controlling 29% of the company today. (Note that Abramovich also owns the Chelsea soccer team in the U.K., reportedly up for sale, along with many other global assets, including the world’s third-largest yacht and a Boeing 787 Dreamliner.) He is currently not on a sanctions list, but seems to be very close. Given Evraz’s reliance on the Russian economy, and on Russian banks for financing, it begs the question of its ability to maintain global operations and supply. For the sake of its North American operations and for their many employees, let’s hope Evraz is able to navigate these trying times. But what if it’s not? What is going to happen to the $392 million of rail products in North America?

Graphic courtesy The Daily Mail.

Interestingly, Evraz’s 2021 $392 million revenues in the North American rail market grew from $326 million in 2020, but this revenue increase came on lower sales volume. From its 2021 annual report: “Railroad product revenues increased 20.2% driven by growth in sale prices of 25.4%. This was partially offset by decrease in sales volumes of 5.2%.”

Evraz plants in North America. Pueblo is its primary rail plant. There is no wheel plant.

Vyksa describes itself as Russia’s “largest domestic manufacturer of steel pipes and railway wheels.” Vyksa produces more than 850,000 rail wheels annually, mostly for the Russian market. However, it has made made strong inroads into North American rail supply through the import of wheels from its Russian plants, but its ability to support this going forward is likely at extreme risk. If you’re currently purchasing, and depending upon, Vyksa wheels, is it worth the additional risk to your operations?

Chinese wheel plants: Of the 5 Chinese AAR-certified wheel plants, 2 are joint ventures with Amsted Rail to supply wheels exclusively to the Chinese market. The joint ventures were established more than 30 years ago to introduce modern wheel technology to China. Since then, 3 other Chinese wheel plants have been constructed: Taiyuan Heavy Industries (2 plants) and Maanshan Steel, both SOEs (state-owned enterprises). The Taiyuan Heavy Machinery Group Co. was founded in 1950 as the first state-owned heavy machinery company, designed and constructed by the government since the founding of the People’s Republic of China in 1949.

Maanshan (aka Masteel) is yet another Chinese SOE. From its website: “The Company is one of the largest iron and steel producers and marketers in the People’s Republic of China, and is principally engaged in the manufacture and sale of iron and steel products. The manufacturing process primarily involves iron-making, steel-making and steel rolling projects. The Company’s principal product is steel products, which come in four major categories: steel plates, section steel, wire rods and train wheels.”

Chinese wheel plants.

As I articulated in my June 2021 article, China has set forth a strategy to dominate the global rail supply market, both freight and transit. Using CRRC (China Railway Rolling Stock Company), another SOE, as a catalyst, China has exploited the ambitions of its “One Belt/One Road” and “Made in China 2025” strategies to its advantage. China rail product manufacturers receive preferential treatment through this strategy and are rewarded for their global growth achievements.

North American wheel plants: Amsted Rail has 4 North American wheel plants. They’re located in Columbus, Ohio; Kansas City, Mo., Keokuk,Iowa; and Winnipeg, Canada. In addition to being diversified geographically, combined, theese plants have the ability to serve the entire North American rail industry during normal times.

Located in Burnham, Pa., Sumitomo Standard Steel offers considerable additional capacity to serve the industry.

Both companies have served the North American rail market for more than 100 years. Between Amsted Rail and Sumitomo Standard Steel, there is more than sufficient capacity to satisfy a 60,000-plus annual car build market, which translates to 480,000 new wheels.

North American wheel plants.

The bottom line: Is it worth the risk to rely on imported wheels to support your ongoing rail operations? Given geopolitical events, we should be doing everything possible to bolster our North American supply base to ensure the viability of the North American rail industry, especially during these times of geopolitical conflict.

Principal of Rail Supply Chain Associates, Robert H. Cantwell spent more than 40 years in executive positions in the rail supply industry. He has been active in the Rail Transportation Division of the ASME (American Society of Mechanical Engineers) and is past Chairman of the Division. He has also actively advocated with members of Congress in support of the rail and rail supply industry. Bob holds degrees in Mechanical Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology and an MBA from the University of Chicago. He possesses a unique perspective on the rail supply industry, combining his engineering experience along with robust economic and financial acumen. As an active investor in the rail industry, he has a vested interest in the success of the industry. The views expressed here are his own.

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