U.S.-flag Great Lakes freighters (lakers) moved 9.8 million tons of cargo in July, a virtual tie with a year ago, the Lake Carriers’ Association reported. The July float was, however, 6.4 percent below the month’s five-year average.
Iron ore cargos for steel production totaled 5.2 million tons, an increase of 5 percent. The July ore float was also the highest monthly total for U.S.-flag lakers since December 2014.
Coal loads totaled 1.3 million tons, a decrease of nearly 11 percent. Shipments of aggregate, fluxstone, chemical stone and scrubber stone totaled 2.7 million tons, a decrease of 3 percent compared to a year ago.
Year-to-date U.S.-flag cargo movement stands at 38.35 million tons, a decrease of 4.8 percent compared to the same point in 2017. Iron ore cargos total 21.5 million tons, a decrease of 5.9 percent. Coal loadings total 4.9 million tons, a decrease of 17.5 percent. Limestone tops 9.9 million tons, an increase of 6.4 percent.