Great Lakes iron ore sinks, limestone rises in August

The sluggish iron ore trade in August resulted from high levels of steel imports, and repairs for three 1,000-foot lakers during the month.    Iron ore shipments on the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Seaway totaled 5.9 million tons in August, a year-over-year drop of 19 percent, according to the Lakes Carriers’ Association, which represents 16 American companies that operate 56 U.S.-flag vessels on the Great Lakes.
   The Lakes Carriers’ Association attributed the sharp decline to high levels of steel imports, which continued to depress the trade, and the fact that three 1,000-foot lakers were out of operation during the month while undergoing repairs.
   The three lakers have a combined per-trip capacity of over 200,000 tons. One of the lakers sailed again Aug. 28 and the other two are expected to return to service by Sept. 20.
   August iron ore shipments from U.S. ports totaled 5 million tons, a year-over-year drop of 26.5 percent, while loadings at Canadian ports nearly doubled to 921,000 tons.
   Through August, iron ore shipments on the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Seaway, which stood at 33.5 million tons, remained flat compared to the same period last year.
   Although iron ore shipments were down for the month of August, limestone shipments from U.S. and Canadian quarries on the lakes increased 4 percent from last August to 3.9 million tons.
   The year-to-date lakes limestone trade currently stands at 17.86 million tons, a year-over-year increase of 13 percent.
   Year-to-date, limestone loadings from U.S. quarries and Canadian quarries have posted year-over-year increases of 11 percent and 23 percent, respectively.