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Crosstie production remained relatively stable in February, rising 2.4 percent from January’s level to just under 2 million units, according to the Railway Tie Association’s (RTA) latest monthly market report. Purchases continued to display “explosive growth,” shooting up 16 percent to 2.4 million units, RTA officials said.

But tie inventories declined 2.3 percent in February to 16.7 million units and the inventory-to-sales ratio dropped from 0.77 in January to 0.73.

Through 2012’s first two months, tie purchases totaling 4.4 million units were “booming,” exceeding year-ago levels by 38 percent, while tie production climbed 16 percent to 3.9 million units, RTA officials said.

Meanwhile, 12-month rolling data shows purchases (at 22.9 million units) surged again after climbing in January and dipping in December. The annual growth rate for purchases stood at about 11 percent. Production totaling 23.2 million units expanded at an annual growth rate of about 25 percent and tie inventories grew about 2 percent in the 12-month rolling period.