According to a report Tuesday from the Lake Carriers’ Association, shipments of iron ore on the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Seaway totaled 6.6 million tons in May, an increase of 53 percent compared to ice-impacted April, and 4 percent better than a year ago and the month’s 5-year average.
Loadings at
US ports on Lake Superior and Lake Michigan totaled nearly 6 million tons, an increase of 2.6 percent compared to a year ago. Shipments from Canadian ports in the Seaway totaled 700,000 tons, an increase of 17.8 percent.
Through May, the Lakes/Seaway ore trade stands at 14.9 million tons, an increase of 16.9 percent compared to a year ago. Loadings from
US ports total 12.9 million tons, an increase of 18.3 percent, but still trail their 5-year average by 12 percent. Shipments from Canadian ports total 2 million tons, an increase of 8 percent compared to a year ago, and 15.8 percent ahead of their 5-year average.