RTA report: Crosstie production down, purchases up in June

In June, crosstie production decreased 0.2 percent to about 2 million units, and purchases increased 14.2 percent to nearly 2.4 million units from May levels, according to the Railway Tie Association (RTA).

Compared with year-ago levels, production was up 17.9 percent in June, but purchases were down by 12.4 percent. Production through the first six months of 2015 jumped 25.8 percent and purchases rose 2.5 percent compared with the same period in 2014, RTA officials said in their June market report.

Also, a nine-month decline in purchases since July 2014 changed to an upswing. Purchases, however, were still down at a -6.1 percent annual rate, officials noted.

After a long decline since March 2012, production stabilized in 2014 and is on the rise in 2015 by 13.6 percent from the year-ago level.