U.S.-Flag Lakers' Cargo Up Nearly 4 Percent in August

U.S.-flag Great Lakes freighters (“lakers”) carried 10.4 million tons of dry-bulk cargo in August, a decrease of 6.6 percent compared to July, but an increase of 3.7 percent compared to a year ago.  The August “float” was also largely in line with the month’s 5-year average.

 

Iron ore cargos for the steel industry increased 8 percent compared to a year ago.  Limestone cargos for construction, steel production, and environmental uses jumped almost 21 percent, but coal for power generation and steel production slumped again, this time by more than 16 percent.Through August U.S.-flag cargos stand at 55.1 million tons, an increase of 3.2 percent compared to the same point in 2010.  Iron ore has increased 9.4 percent, but coal is down by 7.5 percent.  Limestone cargos have now inched passed last year. Compared to the 5-year average for the first eight months of the year, U.S.-flag cargos are down 1.9 percent.

 

Lake Carriers’ Association represents 17 American companies that operate 55 U.S.-flag vessels on the Great Lakes that carry the raw materials that drive the nation’s economy: iron ore and fluxstone for the steel industry, aggregate and cement for the construction industry, coal for power generation....  Collectively, these vessels can transport more than 115 million tons of cargo per year when high water offsets lack of adequate dredging.