US-flag Great Lakes freighters (lakers) carried 9.7 million tons of cargo in October, a decrease of 13.7 percent compared to a year ago, and a decrease of 0.6 percent compared to the month’s long-term average, according to the Lake Carriers’ Association.
Iron ore cargos decreased 21.8 percent compared to a year ago. Coal cargos decreased 7 percent. Limestone loadings dipped a little more than 1 percent.
Year-to-date US-flag cargos total 71.9 million tons, an increase of 0.9 percent compared to the same point in 2014, but a decrease of 1.3 percent compared to the long-term average for the January-October timeframe. Iron ore cargos have decreased 6.3 percent compared to a year ago. Coal shipments are up 6.5 percent. Limestone loadings have increased 10 percent.