Great Lakes ore shipments down in June

   Shipments of iron ore on the Great Lakes totaled 6 million tons in June, a decrease of 6 percent compared to May, and a drop of 7 percent compared to a year ago, according to the Lake Carriers’ Association.
   Loadings also trailed the month’s long-term average by 4.4 percent. 
   Iron ore shipments from U.S. ports reached 5.3 million tons, a decrease of 6.7 percent compared to a year ago. The June total included 305,000 tons shipped to Québec City for loading into oceangoing vessels and delivery overseas. Year-to-date overseas exports total 1.057 million tons, the association reported.
   Shipments from Canadian ports to Great Lakes destinations totaled 753,000 tons, a decrease of 9.5 percent compared to a year ago.
   “Year-to-date, the Great Lakes ore trade stands at 23.2 million tons, a decrease of 8.1 percent compared to a year ago. Loadings are 3.4 percent below the long-term average for the first half of the year,” the association said.
   The Lake Carriers’ Association represents 17 American companies that operate 57 U.S.-flag vessels on the Great Lakes. Collectively, these vessels can transport more than 115 million tons of cargo per year.