According to the Lake Carriers' Association (LCA), iron ore shipments of 1.9 million tons on the Great Lakes in March were down 11.2 percent from March 2010. Loadings were 6.75 percent ahead of the month's five-year average, however.
Shipments from US ports totaled 1.75 million tons in March, a 17 percent decrease from the same period a year ago. The LCA partially attributed the difference to the locks at Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan opening four days earlier in 2010 compared to opening at the scheduled time in March 2011.
"Five of the seven US ore ports are located on Lake Superior, so four less days of navigation clearly impacted the total," said the LCA.
Through March 2011, the iron ore trade stands at 4.8 million tons on the Great Lakes, an increase of 17.2 percent compared to a year ago (because shipments were up 60 percent in January). Loadings are also 9.4 percent ahead of the five-year average for Q1.