Great Lakes Iron Ore Trade Surges in September

Posted by Michelle Howard November 7, 2017

Photo: Interlake Steamship

Shipments of iron ore on the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Seaway totaled 6.5 million tons in September, an increase of 23.4 percent compared to a year ago, the Lake Carriers' Association (LCA) said. Shipments also bettered the month’s 5-year average by 8.5 percent.

According to the LCA, shipments from U.S. ports totaled 6.2 million tons in September, an increase of 25.8 percent compared to a year ago. However, loadings at Canadian terminals in the Seaway dipped by a boatload or so to 303,000 tons.

Year-to-date the iron ore trade stands at 43.3 million tons, an increase of 13.7 percent compared to the same point in 2016. Year-over-year, loadings at U.S. ports total 40 million tons, an increase of 16.7 percent. Shipments from Canadian ports in the St. Lawrence Seaway total 3.3 million tons, a decrease of 13.1 percent.