CROSSTIE ANNUAL UPDATE 2015

摘要

Wood tie supply has been low due to challenging weather climates since 2013, but the market seems optimistic as timber becomes more readily available with time. Suppliers of wood, concrete, composite/alternative ties and life-extending preservatives weigh in on this past year and look towards a growing future for the crossite market. "Production has been on an upswing in the east for most of the year and as weather improved in the west, we saw similar improvement as log decks increased," said Jim Gauntt, executive director of the Railway Tie Association. "Part of this is due to necessary pricing increases, but some of it also has to do with other markets for lumber and other products, such as crane mats and board road for the tracking industry softened. In some regions (mostly eastern plants), the ability to start improving white tie inventory so that air-dry tie inventories will be sustainable by late spring next year is looking probable. In other regions, wet weather has hampered building the air-dry stacks; in those areas, production plants appear to be several more months away from sustainable air-dry inventory."