Great Lakes Coal trade off 25% in April

Great Lakes Coal trade off 25% in April    The Lake Carriers Association said Monday that the Great Lakes coal trade was “sluggish” in April.
Shipments totaled 2.8 million tons, a 25 percent decrease from a year ago. The trade was down 30 percent from the month's five-year average.
   Only one coal dock, Superior Midwest Energy Terminal in Superior, Wis., increased its shipments compared to last April. The dock loaded 2 million tons, an 8.7 percent increase. The largest decrease came at Lake Erie ports. Shipments fell more than 60 percent and totaled only 490,000 tons, the group said.
   For the year, the Lakes coal trade stands at 3.7 million tons, a 46 percent decrease compared to the January-April time frame last year. Shipments are 47 percent behind the five-year average for the first four months of the year.
   Lake Carriers' Association represents 18 American companies that operate 65 U.S.-flag vessels on the Great Lakes.