Iron ore cargos increase on the US Great Lakes while coal continues to slip

Monday, 13 February 2012 01:55:04 (GMT+2)

The Lake Carriers' Association (LCA) announced Friday that drybulk cargo shipments totaled 3.9 million tons in January, an increase of 14 percent compared to January 2011 and 41 percent ahead of the month's five-year average.
 
Iron ore cargos for the steel industry increased 21 percent compared to a year ago and outperformed their five-year average by 58 percent. Shipments of iron ore on the Great Lakes totaled 3,587,016 net tons in January, an increase of 24 percent over January 2011 and 57 percent ahead of the month's five-year average.

However, coal loadings slipped by 53 percent compared to January 2011, and slightly less-- 45 percent--compared to the trade's five-year average. Shipments of coal on the Great Lakes totaled 382,312 net tons in January, a decrease of 49 percent compared to January 2011 and decreased by 62 percent on the month's five-year average.
 
Limestone cargos, on the other hand,only had one cargo moved during the month of January due to low temperatures which make rinsing the limestone difficult.

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