U.S.-flag lakers see 50% volume rebound

U.S.-flag lakers see 50% volume rebound    The U.S.-flag Great Lakes vessel fleet transported 7.6 million tons of dry bulk cargo in April, a 50 percent increase over the previous year, but still about 15 percent off the month's five-year average, according to the Lake Carriers' Association.
   In response to the resurge in steel production, U.S.-flag lakers moved 4 million tons of taconite pellets in April, more than double the volume of a year ago.
   'The steel industry has been recording steady increases in production for several months now. As April came to an end, the industry was using 72 percent of its capacity, compared to 42 percent a year ago,' the association said in the a statement.
   The limestone trade also started to reemerge in April. Stone cargos hauled in U.S. bottoms totaled 1.7 million tons, an increase of more than 47 percent.
   Coal cargos decreased 15 percent in April. 'The falloff is in part due to later sailing dates for some vessels that are engaged in the coal trade,' the association said.
   For the year, U.S.-flag carriage stands at 12.7 million tons, an increase of 92 percent, compared to the same point last year.    However, compared to the five-year average for the January-April timeframe, U.S.-flag cargos are 14.4 percent off the pace, the association explained.