Wood Crosstie Procurement Trends
Railway Tie Association (RTA) Procurement Trends Dashboard below represents the monthly opinions of "in-the field" wood tie buyers who procure untreated crossties from sawmills in their specific regions. The data is submitted to RTA within the first two weeks of the month following the reporting period covered. The output is in two forms - monthly and a 12-month running view (which started in July 2016). You can choose individual regions or grouped regions from the dropdown menus above for both the monthly and trend data. All the charts on the page will change based on your dropdown selections.
Since the information provided represents a snapshot-in-time-opinion of individuals, each working for a variety of tie procurement companies, RTA does not warrant nor accept responsibility for the accuracy of the data generated. For questions or feedback please email us.
1. Compared to last month, the quantity of logs on hand at mill yards is:
2. Today's log availability is:
3. The 6-12 outlook for log availability is:
4. Compared to last month, the overall demand for competitive products in your territory is:
5. In your territory, what is the current demand for:
Pallet Lumber
Paper (Chips
Lumber (#2 & #3)
Export
Board/Mat Timbers
6. What is your current view of overall hardwood sawmill production?
7. What is your current view of overall crosstie sawmill products?
Current
Future
8. What is your view of crosstie competitive position relative to other hardwood products?
9. Regarding your above answer, please provide context for market, weather or other conditions.
Virginia: The Virginia area has cut tie receipts to a minimum. Stiff Quotas and shutdowns are in place.
Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, Michigan, N Indiana, N Illinois: Weather has been good recently however mills and loggers are worried if we get another winter like last year, a lot of mills will go out of business. Small log diameters in particular will be a problem to move for loggers with pulpwood and pallet and tie markets low or non existent.
Pennsylvania: Starting to see some lower log inventories which is worrisome for this time of year. Pallet / Blocking has seen some decline. Reports of maple uppers seeing some slowdown. Mill closures continue across the area.
New England 1: Mills are keeping log inventories low due to poor market conditions. And with Fall wet weather approaching and hunting seasons starting loggers production will start to slow down. Upper grade lumber is moving but mills are still struggling to move the #1 and #2 common grades.
Alabama, Florida, Georgia: Major damage in South and East Georgia from Helene. Some mills are out of power for over a week. Expect hardwood log availability to increase as landowners who previously did not want to sell, try to salvage cut their timber.
West Virginia: Majority of mills have low log decks compared to previous years for this time of year. It has been very dry in the region so the lower log inventories are a result of low demand across the board for almost all products.
E Texas, NW Louisiana: Economy is just got everything in a downward spiral. Just me take on things.
Mississippi: Mat markets & high grade lumber & Toes are the only markets that are profitable.