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: Flooring, Pallet, and Ties are slow to move. Crane Mats seem to be picking up momentum over the last month. Weather has been too wet to log.
Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, Michigan, N Indiana, N Illinois: Logs are expensive and lumber is cheap - nowhere to go with low grade. Mills are worried about getting enough logs at the right price to make it through the winter - not too many are optimistic. Weather has been warmer so no frost left in the ground.
Pennsylvania: Log inventories are low. Wet weather is prohibiting logging crews from working. Upper grade lumber is moving better than the low grade. Some uptick in exports, but most believe this may be largely driven by the threat of tariffs. Holidays have also slowed production down.
New England 1: Log inventories are low due to poor market conditions. Most mills carrying roughly 60% of their average log inventories. Overall market conditions are still stagnant. Mills are starting to struggle to make ends meet.
E Texas, NW Louisiana: Board road and crane mats have picked up in my area , and its getting wet so hopefully with production going down the pallet market will improve as well.
Mississippi: unseasonably dry until recently. logging is only now beginning to be hindered. Markets for lumber & pallet are stagnant. Mat markets have improved and are somewhat steady. Tie demand remains steady
Kentucky, Tennessee: Winter weather and decreasing log supply is helping the price of lumber.
We need millions of ties but the depressed lumber markets make them almost too available in my area for now. This may soon change with log supplies diminishing.
Kentucky, Tennessee: Winter weather and decreasing log supply is helping the price of lumber.
We need millions of ties but the depressed lumber markets make them almost too available in my area for now. This may soon change with log supplies diminishing.
West Virginia: A lot of mills are running low on logs. Mills can move Fas and better grades fairly easy but the low grade is a challenge for some species.