The Lake Carriers' Association (LCA) reported Thursday that iron ore shipments on the Great Lakes totaled 6.3 million tons in August, a decrease of 9 percent compared to July and 3.5 percent below the level of a year ago. Shipments were, however, nearly 22 percent ahead of August's five-year average.
Shipments from US ports totaled 5.4 million tons, a decrease of 8.2 percent compared to a year ago. Included in that total were 440,000 tons shipped to Québec City for final delivery overseas. Loadings at Canadian ports rose nearly 35 percent to 960,000 tons.
Through August the iron ore trade stands at 38.5 million tons, an increase of 4.9 percent compared to a year ago, and 17.3 percent better than the five-year average for the January-August timeframe.
Shipments from US ports are up 3.1 percent compared to a year ago and 18.1 percent ahead of their five-year average. Loadings at Canadian ports are up 20.1 percent compared to a year ago and 11.7 percent ahead of their five-year average.