Great Lakes monthly iron ore trade rises nearly 15%

Of the 6.4 million tons of iron ore moved, 6 million was from shipments at nine U.S. Great Lakes ports, a 21.7 percent jump compared to the 4.95 million of the same month a year ago.    About 6.4 million tons of iron ore shipments traveled on U.S. Great Lakes ports and the St. Lawrence Seaway last month, an increase of about 825,000 tons, according to the association representing operators of U.S.-flagged vessels on the Great Lakes.
   Of the 6.4 million total tons, six million was from shipments at nine U.S. Great Lakes ports, a 21.7 percent jump compared to the 4.95 million of the same month a year ago. But the remaining 391,000 tons, which were loadings at three Quebec, Ontario terminals in the Seaway, fell nearly 40 percent from July 2016’s total of 642,855 tons.
   Despite the decrease in Canadian loadings, the total tonnage was a 14.7 percent increase over July 2016’s 5.59 million tons, according to data from the Lake Carriers’ Association, which represents 13 American companies that operate 49 U.S.-flag vessels on the Great Lakes.
   However, in spite of the reported total tonnage increase, shipments trailed the month’s five-year average of 6.5 million tons by 2.3 percent, according to statistics.
   Data also shows that iron ore trade for the first seven months of the calendar year stands at 30.1 million tons, a 12.4 percent increase over the same period in 2016, while year-over-year loadings at U.S. ports total 27.5 million tons, an increase of 14.3 percent.
   Canadian port shipments in the St. Lawrence Seaway, however, fell 4 percent year-over-year to 2.65 million tons.
   The 49 vessels whose operators are represented by the Lake Carriers’ Association collectively transport over 100 million tons of raw materials and bulk cargo annually.