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: poplar and flooring prices have decreased. Mills are trying to get rid of their oak logs before pricing comes down much more. This means ties. Poplar will be sawed before stain sets in and not because price is great.
Pennsylvania: most mills are unable to move red oak or cherry lumber to large customers that had a lot of exposure to export markets. 2-3c pricing isnt great by any means.Mat buyers continue to be wide open. Tariffs and market uncertainty has many large purchasers in "wait and see mode".
New England 1: with tariffs on to CA and export markets, ties are still heavily favored. However, tie demand remains slow/flat for most.
Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, Michigan, N Indiana, N Illinois: red oak has backed off due to lumber markets as well as walnut. mills are moving into maple very soon due to warm weather which means a few less ties.
E Texas, NW Louisiana: Crosstie's is holding up the sawmills i think the railroads have done a great job keeping the mill base above water. Logs are slow moving the rains are close enough to keep tracts wet.
Kentucky, Tennessee: Weak export markets have forced mills to turn their focus to crossties and other industrials.
Mississippi: Spring rains have hampered logging. Mills struggle moving lumber and residuals. Industrial products are moving well.
West Virginia: Tariffs are having an effect on the mills. Prices are dropping and lumber isn't as easy to move as was the case earlier this spring