US-flag Lakers’ Cargo Down in October

U.S.-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 that Lake Carriers’ Association (LCA).

 

Iron ore cargos decreased 21.8 percent compared to a year ago, coal cargos decreased 7 percent and limestone loadings dipped a little more than 1 percent.

 

Year-to-date U.S.-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, while coal shipments are up 6.5 percent and limestone loadings have increased 10 percent.