advertisement

---

After falling in May and rising in June, crosstie purchases remained “erratic” in July by tumbling 27 percent from June’s level to 1.7 million units, according to the Railway Tie Association’s (RTA) monthly crosstie market report.

However, July production rose 5 percent from June’s total to about 1.5 million units — the highest level in nine months, the RTA said. Inventories fell slightly in July to 15.7 million units after a sharp decline in June and the inventory-to-sales ratio remained steady at 0.87.

Through 2010’s first seven months, purchases totaled 11.7 million units and production totaled 8.7 million units vs. 13.1 million units and 14.8 million units, respectively, through 2009’s first seven months. Purchases stood at about 89 percent of last year’s level and production stood at only about 40 percent, the report states.

Meanwhile, 12-month rolling data shows purchases hit a low point at 18.1 million units, declining at a 14.5 percent annual rate, the RTA said. Production of 16 million ties was down 33 percent from the year-ago level and inventories were down 11 percent.