RTA: Tie production, purchases fell in April

In April, tie production dropped 8.1 percent to 1.3 million units and purchases slipped 2.9 percent to 1.8 million units compared with March levels, according to the Railway Tie Association's (RTA) latest market report.

On a year-over-year basis, production decreased 23.6 percent in April, while purchases fell 24.5 percent.

Year to date, production totaled 5.5 million ties, down 24.8 percent compared with the same period a year ago. But purchases totaling about 7 million ties were up 5.4 percent compared with the same period in 2017.

Meanwhile, 12-month rolling totals through April show purchases are in an upward trend at a 4.4 percent annual rate. However, production is trending lower and is down by a 26 percent annual rate.