Great Lakes iron ore volumes sink in May

Shipments from U.S. ports fell 8 percent year-over-year to 5.5 million tons in May, while loadings from Canadian ports tumbled 20 percent year-over-year to 556,000 tons.    Iron ore shipments on the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Seaway totaled 6 million tons in May, a 9 percent decline from May 2015, according to the Lake Carriers’ Association.
   Shipments from U.S. ports reached 5.5 million tons in May, an 8 percent year-over-year decline. During the month, the top three U.S. ports for U.S. iron ore loadings on the lakes were Two Harbors, Minn.; Superior, Wis.; and Presque Isle, Mich.
   Loadings from Canada, tumbled 20 percent year-over-year to 556,000 tons. During the month, all Canadian iron ore shipments on the lakes came from Port Cartier, Quebec on the north shore of the St. Lawrence River.
   Overall, year-to-date iron ore shipments on the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Seaway jumped 4 percent from the same period in 2015 to 15.4 million tons, driven by more loadings from U.S. ports, despite the decline in shipments from Canadian ports.