Stella-Jones Inc, a maker of treated wood products, reported a 47 percent rise in first-quarter profit helped mainly by stronger railway tie sales.

The Canadian company, which makes poles and railroad ties by treating wood it buys from sawmills, reported a net income of C$8.5 million, or 53 Canadian cents a share, compared with C$5.8 million, or 45 Canadian cents a share, a year ago.

Sales rose 31.3 percent to C$130.5 million, as railway tie sales nearly tripled to $76.5 million. (Reuters)