Great Lakes iron ore trade rises 10.5% in October

A total of 5.9 million tons of iron ore were shipped on the Great Lakes during the month of October, which bettered the month’s 5-year average by 6.8 percent, according to data from the Lake Carriers’ Association (LCA).    The amount of iron ore shipments that moved through the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Seaway last month increased 10.5 percent compared to a year ago, according to newly released data from the association that represents companies operating US-flagged vessels on the Great Lakes.
   A total of 5.9 million tons of iron ore were shipped in October, according to the Lake Carriers’ Association (LCA). The amount bettered the month’s 5-year average by 6.8 percent, data show.
   Out of the 5.9 million total tons, shipments from U.S. ports last month totaled 5.5 million tons, which was an increase of 13.3 percent compared to a year ago. However, loadings at Canadian terminals in the Seaway decreased by 18.2 percent to 395,000 tons, LCA data show.
   Through the first 10 months of the year, iron ore trade stands at 49.2 million tons, a 13.3 percent rise over the same point in 2016, statistics show.
   Year-over-year, loadings at U.S. ports total 45.5 million tons, a 16.3 percent increase, while shipments from Canadian ports in the St. Lawrence Seaway fell 13.7 percent to 3.7 million tons, the LCA said.
   The Lake Carriers’ Association represents 13 American companies that operate 49 U.S.-flag vessels on the Great Lakes that carry the raw materials such as iron ore and fluxstone for the steel industry, aggregate and cement for the construction industry, coal for power generation, as well as sand, grain and other dry-bulk cargoes.
   Collectively, the vessels can transport more than 100 million tons of cargo per year, according to the LCA.