US-flag Great Lakes Cargo Shipping Steadies

U.S.-flag Great Lakes freighters (lakers) moved 9.7 million tons of cargo in June, a near mirror image of a year ago but 3.5 percent below the month’s five-year average, the Lake Carriers’ Association reported.

Iron ore cargos for steel production totaled 4.6 million tons, a decrease of 6.9 percent, while coal loads totaled 1.4 million tons, a decrease of 13.7 percent.

Offsetting those decreases was a 21 percent surge in limestone cargos. Shipments of aggregate, fluxstone, chemical stone and scrubber stone totaled 3.16 million tons.

Year-to-date U.S.-flag cargo movement stands at 28.6 million tons, a decrease of 6.5 percent compared to the same point in 2017. Iron ore cargos total 16.3 million tons, a decrease of 9 percent. Coal loadings total 3.6 million tons, a decrease of 20 percent. Limestone loads are up to 7.2 million tons, an increase of 10.5 percent.