Coal shipments on Great Lakes rise

Coal shipments on Great Lakes rise    Coal shipments on the Great Lakes totaled 4.1 million net tons in July, a 5.7 percent increase over June, and up 26 percent compared to a year ago.
   However, loadings were down 3.4 percent compared to the month's five-year average.
   Year-to-date coal shipments have increased 3.7 percent to 14.8 million tons. However, year ago totals were still depressed by the recession. 2010 loadings through the end of July are 22.6 percent off the five-year average.
   Shipments of limestone on the Great Lakes totaled 3.7 million net tons in July, down 4.7 percent compared to June, but up 27 percent compared to a year ago. The trade was down 11.5 percent when compared to the month's five-year average.
   Year-to-date the lakes' limestone trade stands at 13.7 million net tons, an increase of 32.5 percent compared to a year ago, but a 15.2 percent decrease compared to the five-year average for the January-July timeframe.