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Although crosstie purchases continued to mount in April, tie production fell off March’s fast pace, according to the Railway Tie Association (RTA). Tie purchases totaling 1.94 million units increased 5.5 percent but production totaling 1.74 million units dropped 17 percent compared with March. Tie inventories fell 1.2 percent to 16 million units.

During 2006’s first four months, tie production of 7.3 million units topped “year-ago numbers by more than 34 percent,” RTA said in a monthly report. Purchases totaling 6.8 million units “have been more in line with expectations, posting a 5 percent increase,” association officials said.

During a 12-month period ending April 30, purchases increased 3.4 percent but production jumped 16 percent compared with the previous 12-month period. Inventories rose 14.5 percent and the inventory-to-sales ratio went up from 0.76 to 0.84.