Coal up 2.5% on Great Lakes in July

   Shipments of coal on the Great Lakes reached 2.9 million tons in July, an increase of 2.5 percent over June, and a jump of 7.3 percent compared to a year ago, according to the Lake Carriers’ Association.
   Shipments from Lake Superior ports totaled 1.8 million tons, an increase of 16.1 percent compared to a year ago. Included in that total were 215,000 tons loaded in Superior, Wis., and transshipped to Québec City for loading into oceangoing colliers. Coal exports to Europe from Superior reached 844,000 tons through July.
   Loadings in Chicago totaled 319,000 tons, a decrease of 33 percent compared to a year ago, while coal shipments from Lake Erie ports totaled 758,000 tons, an increase of 15.2 percent compared to a year ago, the association said.
   Year-to-date the Lakes coal trade stands at 11.1 million tons, a decrease of 3 percent compared to a year ago.
   The Lake Carriers’ Association represents 17 American companies that operate 57 U.S.-flag vessels on the Great Lakes.