Great Lakes Ore Trade Down 6.6 Percent in May

Shipments of iron ore on the Great Lakes totaled 6.4 million tons in May, an increase of 15.1 percent compared to April, but a decrease of 6.6 percent compared to a year ago.  Loadings also trailed the month’s long-term average by 4.8 percent.

Shipments from U.S. ports totaled 5.8 million tons, a decrease of 2.9 percent compared to a year ago.  The May total included 380,000 tons shipped to Québec City for loading into oceangoing vessels and delivery overseas.

Shipments from Canadian ports totaled 556,000 tons, a decrease of 33.5 percent compared to a year ago.

Year-to-date, the Lakes ore trade stands at 17.2 million tons, a decrease of 8.6 percent compared to a year ago.  Loadings are 3.1 percent below the long-term average for the January-May timeframe.

Lake Carriers’ Association represents 17 American companies that operate 57 U.S.-flag vessels on the Great Lakes and carry the raw materials that drive the nation’s economy: iron ore and fluxstone for the steel industry, aggregate and cement for the construction industry, coal for power generation, as well as salt, sand and grain.  Collectively, these vessels can transport more than 115 million tons of cargo per year.