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Tie purchases tumbled while tie production plunged in February, according to the Railway Tie Association’s (RTA) monthly crosstie market report. Purchases declined 7 percent to 1.07 million units and production fell 28 percent to 852,000 units compared with January levels.

“Production experienced a significant correction [last month],” RTA officials said in the report. “The year is off to a slow start, with production volume about half of 2009’s level.”

Meanwhile, 12-month rolling data shows both production and purchases continue to fall from spring and summer 2009 highs. Production totaling 19.9 million ties is contracting at a 6.8 percent annual rate while purchases totaling 18.1 million units are declining at a 14 percent rate, according to the report.

During the 12-month rolling period, the inventory-to-sales ratio climbed to a record 1.02, “well above the 0.80 average from the most recent five years,” RTA officials said.