The following is the text of a news release from the Lake Carriers' Association:
(CLEVELAND) — Frequent weather delays hampered the iron ore trade on the Great Lakes in November. Shipments totaled 5.7 million tons, an increase of just 60,000 tons compared to a year ago. Loadings did fare better when compared to the month’s five-year average, increasing by 260,000 tons, or 4.8 percent.
Shipments from U.S. ports totaled 5.2 million tons in November, again a small increase, 2.2 percent. Loadings at Canadian terminals in the Seaway decreased by 10 percent to 480,000 tons.
Year to date, the iron ore trade stands at 54.9 million tons, an increase of 11.9 percent compared to the same point in 2016. Year over year, loadings at U.S. ports total 50.7 million tons, an increase of 14.7 percent. Shipments from Canadian ports in the St. Lawrence Seaway total 4.2 million tons, a decrease of 13.2 percent.
The Lake Carriers’ Association represents 13 American companies that operate 49 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 sand, grain and other dry-bulk cargoes. Collectively, these vessels can transport more than 100 million tons of cargo per year. More information is available at www.lcaships.com.
