The following is the text of a news release from the Lake Carriers' Association:
(CLEVELAND) — Shipments of iron ore on the Great Lakes totaled 5.3 million tons in October, a decrease of 23 percent compared to a year ago. Shipments were down 9 percent from the month’s five-year average.
Loadings at U.S. ports totaled 4.6 million tons in October, a decrease of 27.4 percent compared to a year ago. Shipments from Canadian ports totaled 725,000 tons, an increase of 24 percent.
Through October, the Lakes/Seaway ore trade stands at 44.4 million tons, a decrease of 6 percent compared to the same point in 2014. Shipments are down 6.6 percent compared to the five-year average for the January-October time frame. Loadings at U.S. ports are down 9.6 percent compared to the corresponding period last year. Shipments from Canadian ports are up 29 percent.
The Lake Carriers’ Association represents 15 American companies that operate 56 U.S.-flag vessels on the Great Lakes and 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, as well as salt, sand and grain. Collectively, these vessels can transport more than 115 million tons of cargo per year. More information is available at www.lcaships.com.
