Ice, reportedly more than 4 feet thick in places, effectively stalled the resumption of the coal trade on the Great Lakes in March, the Lake Carriers’ Association said. Only three coal cargos were loaded: one on Lake Superior, one on Lake Michigan and one on Lake Erie. Combined, the cargos totaled 102,000 tons, a decrease of 70 percent compared to a year ago.
Compared to the month’s five-year average, March loadings were down more than 80 percent.
Year-to-date the Lakes coal trade stands at 475,000 tons, a decrease of 16 percent compared to a year ago, but 54 percent below the long-term average for the first quarter.
Source: Lake Carriers’ Association
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