Iron ore shipments on the Great Lakes totaled 5,026,477 net tons in October, a 6.1% decrease compared to September, but a 30.5% improvement over a year ago. Even so, loadings were still 8.6% below the month’s five-year average.
October loadings at U.S. Great Lakes ports increased 28.3% compared to a year ago. Shipments from Canadian ports along the Seaway were up 46%.
Year-to-date the Lakes ore trade stands at 44 million tons, an increase of 90% compared to the same point last year. However, the end-of-October total is still 2.5% off the five-year average for the January-October timeframe. Shipments from U.S. ports are up 92% compared to a year ago. Loadings at Canadian ports are 81% ahead of last year’s pace.