The following is the text of a news release from the Lake Carriers' Association:
(CLEVELAND) — U.S.-flag Great Lakes freighters (lakers) moved 8.5 million tons of cargo in November, an increase of 1.3 percent, or 114,000 tons, compared to a year ago. November’s shipments were, however, slightly behind the month’s long-term average.
Iron ore cargoes for steelmaking totaled 4.2 million tons, a decrease of nearly 10 percent compared to a year ago.
Coal loadings increased 30,000 tons to a total of 1,269,589.
Limestone cargoes increased 27.5 percent to 2.5 million tons.
Year over year, U.S.-flag cargoes total 78.5 million tons, an increase of 3 percent over the same point in 2016. Iron ore shipments have increased 5.4 percent to 41.5 million tons. Coal cargoes have increased 1.9 percent to 12 million tons. While the 20.5 million tons of aggregate, fluxstone and scrubber stone shipped represent an increase of less than 1 percent, it is the first time this year the trade has outpaced last year’s year-to-date total.
The Lake Carriers’ Association represents 13 American companies that operate 49 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 sand and grain. Collectively, these vessels can transport more than 100 million tons of cargo per year. More information is available at www.lcaships.com.
