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, according to the Lake Carriers’ Association (LCA)
Loadings at U.S. ports on Lake Superior and Lake Michigan totaled nearly 6 million tons, an increase of 2.6 percent compared to a year ago, LCA said, adding that 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 U.S. 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.