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In September, crosstie production climbed 19 percent to 2.1 million units, but purchases dropped 34 percent to 1.9 million units compared with September 2011 levels, according to the Railway Tie Association's (RTA) latest monthly market report. Inventories rose 6 percent to 18 million units.

In the third quarter, production ratcheted up 2.5 percent year over year to 6.7 million units and purchases fell 11 percent to 5.8 million units.

Through 2012's first nine months, production was up 15 percent to 19.4 million ties and purchases were up 10 percent to 18.5 million ties.

Meanwhile, 12-month rolling data showed annual growth rates of 14 percent for production and 12 percent for purchases, RTA officials said in the report. The inventory-to-sales ratio rose from August's 0.76 to 0.77, but fell below the year-ago reading of 0.78, they said.