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After crosstie purchases boomed in June, soaring 22 percent, they “extended the climb” in July by increasing 5.4 percent from June's level to 2.2 million units, according to the Railway Tie Association’s (RTA) monthly crosstie market report.

However, tie production, which had jumped 25 percent in June, “saw something of a correction” in July and declined 10 percent to 1.9 million units, the report states. In July 2010, purchases totaled 1.7 million units and production totaled 1.5 million units.

Inventories remained stable in July at 15.9 million units, a level that's been relatively steady for almost a year, RTA officials said in the report.

Through 2011’s first seven months, tie production of 12.6 million units climbed 46 percent compared with the same period last year, showing production has rebounded from a weak 2010, the report states. Purchases rose 11 percent to 13 million units.

Meanwhile, RTA’s 12-month rolling data showed purchases were growing at an annual rate of more than 16 percent and surpassed the 21 million mark. Production (at 21.1 million units) remained on a 14-month growth streak, rising at an annual rate of 32 percent, RTA officials said. The inventory-to-sales ratio of 0.75 fell to its lowest reading in more than two years, the report states. In June, the ratio was 0.79.