The Lake Carriers' Association (LCA) reported Wednesday that shipments of coal on the US Great Lakes totaled 25,347,709 tons in 2012, a decrease of 8.2 percent compared to 2011. The trade was 25 percent off its five-year average.
Shipments from Lake Superior ports--15.1 million tons--were just about even with 2011. Included in that total were 1.3 million tons shipped to Québec City for loading into oceangoing vessels and delivery overseas.
Loadings at Chicago terminals totaled 3.2 million tons, a decrease of 14.5 percent from 2011, but a slight increase over their five-year average. Shipments from Lake Erie ports totaled 7 million tons, a decrease of nearly 19 percent compared to 2011.
The impacts of falling water levels and lack of adequate dredging were clearly evident as the year came to a close, the LCA said. The largest coal cargo shipped through the locks at Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, in December totaled 62,043 tons. The largest coal cargo passing through the locks during 2012 was 64,706 tons.