St. Lawrence Seaway sails higher on grain

   U.S. grain shipments from the U.S. and Canadian heartland through the St. Lawrence Seaway have made a “decisive comeback, posting a nearly 50 percent jump” in June from the same period last year, reported the St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corp. on Tuesday.
   “U.S. grain continues to rebound strongly from last season’s disappointing performance with a 46 percent rise in tonnage, while several shipments within the liquid bulk category posted healthy jumps as the seaway navigation season approaches midpoint,” said Rebecca Spruill, director of trade development for the St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation, in a statement.
   The seaway reported that year-to-date total cargo shipments for the period March 22 to June 30 were 12 million metric tons, down 11.6 percent over the same period in 2012.
   “Iron ore and coal, usually solid performers, were both down by 15 percent and 9 percent respectively due to lower steel production,” the seaway corporation said. Total general cargo was down 14 percent to 616,000 metric tons.
   The liquid bulk category posted a 2.6 percent year-to-date increase to 1.4 million metric tons. The dry bulk category was down 19 percent to 2.7 million metric tons. Within that category, however, scrap metal and pig iron posted upturns of 5 percent and 6 percent, respectively.
   “While many cargo shipments showed a dip to the south, project cargoes were welcomed at the Port of Milwaukee and the Duluth Seaway Port Authority. Additionally, there remains optimism on the project cargo front with oil sands projects picking up in the fall,” the seaway corporation said.