According to the Lake Carriers' Association, shipments of iron ore on the Great Lakes totaled 5.8 million tons in August, a decrease of 10 percent compared to July, and a drop of 9 percent compared to a year ago. Loadings also trailed the month's long-term average by 10 percent.
Shipments from US ports totaled 5.1 million tons, a decrease of 6 percent compared to a year ago. The August total included 447,000 tons shipped to Québec City for loading into oceangoing vessels and delivery overseas. Year-to-date overseas exports from U.S. Great Lakes ports total 1,994,000 tons.
Shipments from Canadian ports to Great Lakes destinations totaled 728,000 tons, a decrease of 24 percent compared to a year ago.
Year-to-date, the Lakes iron ore trade stands at 35.4 million tons, a decrease of 8 percent compared to a year ago. Loadings are 5 percent below the long-term average for the January-August timeframe.