Great Lakes News


Great Lakes Iron Ore Trade a Near Match to January 2025

Feb 19, 2026

Iron ore shipments on the Great Lakes totaled 2 million tons in January, a near match to 2025. Loadings were below the month’s 5-year average by 14.5 percent.Since 1880, Lake Carriers’ has represented the U.S.-flag Great Lakes fleet, which today…

American Great Lakes Ports Launch Study to Expand Cargo Shipments

Feb 03, 2026

The American Great Lakes Ports Association (AGLPA), including members Ports of Indiana, the Illinois International Port District (IIPD), and Port Milwaukee, in partnership with the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation (GLS)…

Great Lakes Iron Ore Trade Down in November

Dec 04, 2025

Shipments of iron ore on the Great Lakes decreased 19.1 percent from 2024 to 3.4 million tons in November. Shipments were below the month’s 5-year average by 20.3 percent.Year-to-date, the iron ore trade stands at 39.2 million tons, a decrease of 13…

Port Milwaukee Looks to 2026 Season as 2025 Comes to a Close

Oct 16, 2025

Port Milwaukee has closed another successful cruising season, welcoming more than 11,000 passengers to the City of Milwaukee throughout the 2025 season. With the conclusion of the 2025 season, the stage is now set for the 2026 season, where…

Great Lakes Iron Ore Trade Down in September

Oct 07, 2025

Shipments of iron ore from U.S. ports on the Great Lakes decreased 14.2 percent from 2024 to 4.7 million tons in September.  Shipments were below the month’s 5-year average by 7.4 percent.Year-to-date, the iron ore trade stands at 31.4 million tons…

U.S. Representative Lisa McClain Recognized as a Great Lakes Champion

Aug 20, 2025

On Monday, August 18, 2025, the Great Lakes Maritime Task Force (GLMTF) recognized Michigan Congresswoman Lisa McClain for her efforts advocating for the Great Lakes Navigation System and those who live and work on or near the Fourth Sea Coast…

Great Lakes Limestone Trade Up in June

Jul 01, 2025

The Lake Carriers’ Association reports that shipments of limestone on the Great Lakes totaled 3.5 million tons in June, an increase of 6.5% from 2024.However, this June’s loadings were below the month’s five-year average by 1.9%.Loadings out of U…

Great Lakes Iron Ore Trade Drop Below Five-Year Average in March

Apr 08, 2025

Shipments of iron ore on the Great Lakes were below one million tons in March, a decrease of 39.1% compared to 2024, reports the Lake Carriers’ Association. Loadings were also below the month’s five-year average by 19.4%.Year-to-date, the iron ore trade stands at nearly three million tons…

U.S. Shipping Invests $150 Million in Great Lakes Region

Jan 31, 2025

With winter in full swing, the U.S.-flagged fleet of Lakers have tied up in ports across the Great Lakes region to perform critical maintenance before the navigational locks in Sault Ste Marie, Michigan reopen on March 25th.Hundreds of skilled…

U.S.-Flag 2024 Cargo on Lakes Down 6.3 PCT

Jan 21, 2025

U.S.-flag Great Lakes freighters (lakers) moved 76.3 million tons of cargo in 2024, a decrease of 6.3 percent compared to 2023. The 2024 float was 4.6 percent below the fleet’s 5-year average.Compared to 2023, salt shipments increased by 5.8 percent while sand shipments increased by 15…

Great Lakes Limestone Trade Down in 2024

Jan 03, 2025

Shipments of limestone on the Great Lakes totaled 28.3 million tons in 2024, a decrease of 3.9 percent compared to 2023.  2024’s loadings were below the trade’s 5-year average by 2.9 percent.Loadings from U.S. quarries decreased 3.4 percent from the prior year to 22…

Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway System Issues Notice to Shipping

Jan 02, 2025

The Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway System as amended a Planned Outage at Lock 7.Mariners are advised of a revision to the preplanned closure at Lock 7 for the replacement of Gates 1 and 2. Due to environmental conditions, the closure will begin one day later…

Great Lakes NOV Iron Ore Trade Dips

Dec 10, 2024

Shipments of iron ore on the Great Lakes totaled 4.3 million tons in November, a decrease of 4.7 percent from 2023. Shipments were below the month’s 5-year average by 3.5 percent.Year-to-date the iron ore trade stands at 45.2 million tons, a decrease of 2…

Lakes Limestone Trade Down in October

Nov 05, 2024

Shipments of limestone on the Great Lakes totaled 3.3 million tons in October, a decrease of 13.1 percent compared to a year ago. Limestone cargos were also below the month’s 5-year average by 9.6 percent.The Lake Carriers' Association, the U…

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