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Seaway tonnage down, but Great Lakes ports on pace to beat 2018

Posted 10/21/19

U.S. Great Lakes ports are on pace to beat 2018 cargo volumes following a strong September handling road salt, cement, stone, petroleum and wind energy components. “U.S. Great Lakes ports are …

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Seaway tonnage down, but Great Lakes ports on pace to beat 2018

Posted

U.S. Great Lakes ports are on pace to beat 2018 cargo volumes following a strong September handling road salt, cement, stone, petroleum and wind energy components.

“U.S. Great Lakes ports are reporting cargo growth as they support the region’s construction activity and energy needs and help our cities prepare for the winter ahead,” said Bruce Burrows, president of the Chamber of Marine Commerce. “Iron ore exports from Minnesota to Japan and China via the St. Lawrence Seaway are also continuing.”

Overall, St. Lawrence Seaway tonnage for the season (March 22 to Sept. 30) reached 24.8 million metric tons, down 6 percent from 2018.

The figures reflect a combination of factors including the decrease in U.S. corn and soybean exports from earlier in the spring and current delays in the Canadian Prairie harvest due to the wet field conditions.