According to a report Wednesday from the Lake Carriers’ Association, iron ore shipments on the Great Lakes total 19.2 million tons through the end of June, a 17 percent decrease from a year ago and the trade’s long-term average. Higher water levels have not been able to offset the interminable delays suffered during the winter of 2013-2014.
Shipments from US ports through the second quarter stand at 16.8 million tons, a decrease of nearly 19 percent compared to a year ago. While several cargos in June topped 69,000 tons, even the best loads still represented a shortfall from the vessel’s rated capacity, and the month’s top load--69,576 tons-- was still 2,724 tons shy of the record through the Soo Locks: 72,300 tons.