Great Lakes Iron Ore Trade Down 5.7% in June

Shipments of iron ore on the Great Lakes totaled 5.7 million tons in June, a decrease of 5.7 percent from 2018.  

Shipments were, however, nearly even with the month’s 5-year average, said a release from Lake Carriers’ Association.

Year-to-date the iron ore trade stands at 20.19 million tons, almost matching the previous year’s total of 20.15 million tons.

Iron shipments are ahead of their 5-year average for the first half of the year.  Loadings have increased more than 840,000 tons.

Lake Carriers’ Association represents 13 American companies that operate 46 U.S.-flag vessels on the Great Lakes and carry the raw materials that drive the nation’s economy: iron ore and flux-stone for the steel industry, aggregate and cement for the construction industry, coal for power generation, as well as salt, sand and grain.