Ore Trade

Great Lakes Iron Ore Trade Up 8%

Iron ore shipments on the Great Lakes totaled 6.5 million net tons in September, an increase of 8.2 percent compared to a year ago. The trade also outperformed the month’s 5-year average by nearly 9 percent. Despite the increases, the iron ore trade continued to struggle with the inefficiencies inherent with lack of adequate dredging. The largest iron ore cargo in September – 66,761 net tons – still represented only 92 percent of the record cargo carried in 1997, a period when water levels allowed for near full loads. For the year, the iron ore trade stands at 45.6 million net tons, an increase of 9.8 percent compared to a year ago. Shipments also are ahead of the 5-year average for the first three quarters by nearly the same margin. (www.lcaships.com)

Great Lakes Ore Trade Down 11.3% in March

Shipments of iron ore on the Great Lakes totaled 1.9 million tons in March, a decrease of 11.3% from a year ago. Loadings were 9.3% ahead of the month’s five-year average, however. Shipments from U.S. ports totaled 1.8 million tons, a decrease of 9.7% compared to a year ago. The March total included 116,000 tons shipped to Quebec City for loading into oceangoing vessels and delivery overseas. Shipments from Canadian ports totaled 113,000 tons

U.S.-Flag Lakes

U.S-Flag cargo movement on the Great Lakes in July fell by 1.5 million tons compared to the same period last year, the largest decrease in recent memory. The season-long string of monthly decreases now amounts to a five-million ton shortfall compared to the same point in 1998. Iron ore cargoes loaded into U.S. bottoms in July totaled 5.9 million tons, a decrease of 18.2 percent. However, the season-to-date total for iron ore is directly tied to the continued unfair trade in steel

LCA: Great Lakes Iron Ore Trade Up 9 Percent in August

Iron ore shipments on the Great Lakes totaled 6,551,329 tons in August, a decrease of 7 percent from July, but an increase of 9 percent compared to a year ago. August loadings also were up 24.6 percent compared to the month’s 5-year average. Shipments from U.S. ports totaled 5.8 million tons, an increase of 14.2 percent compared to a year ago.  However, loadings at Canadian ports dipped more than 20 percent. Through August the iron ore trade stands at 36

Great Lakes Iron Ore Up 8 PCT in November

Iron ore shipments on the Great Lakes totaled 5.8 million tons in November, an increase of 2 percent over October, and an increase of 8 percent compared to a year ago.   November loadings were also up about 8 percent compared to the month’s 5-year average. Shipments from U.S. ports totaled 5.2 million tons, an increase of 9 percent compared to a year ago.  Loadings at Canadian ports were virtually unchanged from a year ago. Through November the iron ore trade stands at 54

Great Lakes Ore Trade Down 11%

Shipments of iron ore on the Great Lakes in January totaled 3.2 million tons, a decrease of 11% compared to a year ago.    The comparison is somewhat problematic, as the locks at Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, stayed open until January 18 in 2012, but closed on January 15 this year.  The extra three days in 2012 were necessary to allow cargos to move that had been delayed by weather.   A storm this January could have justified a similar extension.  U.S

China Shipping Devt Unit Enters $360.64M Shipbuilding Deal

China Shipping Development Co. Ltd. (1138.HK) said its wholly-owned unit, China Shipping Development (Hong Kong) Marine Co. Ltd., has entered into an agreement with a mainland China shipbuilding firm to construct four very large iron ore carriers (VLOCs) for a total of $360.64m. It said it has contracted CSSC Guangzhou Longxue Shipbuilding Co Ltd to build the VLOCs, each of which will be used to transport iron ore. [Source: http://www.tradingmarkets.com]

Iron Ore Carrier Ore Sao Luis Completed

Tokyo—Mitsui O.S.K. Lines Ltd. announced the completion of the 297,000-ton iron ore carrier Ore Sao Luis at the Universal Shipbuilding Corporation, Ariake Shipyard. The Ore Sao Luis will transport iron ore from Brazil mainly to China, under a long-term contract with Vale.   Among those on hand for the naming and delivery ceremonies were Vale International General Manager, Shipping, Pietro Allevato, who named the vessel

Vale VLOC Docks in Japan for First Time

'Valemax' iron ore carrier 'Berge Aconcagua' docks in Japan's Oita Port, a first for this type of ship According to '4-Traders', Brazilian mining company Vale SA informed that its Valemax iron ore vessel--one of seven large iron ore carriers currently operated by Vale--docked in Japan for the first time. The vessel, named the Berge Aconcagua, transported ore to Oita port for Nippon Steel Corporation (NSC). Valemax vessels can carry 400,000 metric tons of iron ore

U.S. Flag Great Lakes Cargo Down in 2012

U.S.-flag Great Lakes freighters carried 89.5 million tons of dry-bulk cargo in 2012, a decrease of 4.6 percent compared to 2011. The 2012 float was 1.5 percent off the five-year average for U.S.-flag lakers.   U.S.-flag lakers carried 45.2 million tons of iron ore in 2012, or 73.3 percent of the total volume of iron ore moved on the Great Lakes last year. The 45.2 million tons of iron ore carried by U.S.-flag lakers represented a decrease of 4.3 percent from 2011.