Steel Shipments News

U.S. Great Lakes ports reported mixed results in June with aluminum, road salt and grain shipments holding strong despite the coronavirus pandemic, while shipments of commodities related to steel production and manufacturing have continued to slide.Additionally, the St. Lawrence Seaway reported that from April 1 to June 30, nearly 11.7 million metric tons of cargo was shipped via the bi-national trade corridor. While these volumes were down 8% compared to the same time period in 2019, cargo shipments improved in June narrowing the year-over-year decline.Craig H.

As the St. Lawrence Seaway officially opened for business yesterday (March 26), U.S. Great Lakes ports are predicting the shipping season will mirror last year’s stellar performance.In 2018, many U.S. Great Lakes ports recorded their highest cargo totals in recent years, with strong volumes of iron ore, petroleum products, construction products and international grain exports. This coming season, road salt shipments should also be strong as cities replenish their reserves after a long, difficult winter. “We are optimistic these trends will continue into the new season and off-season investments made by the St. Lawrence Seaway and local ports will make 2019 another great season for our members,” says Bruce Burrows, President of the Chamber of Marine Commerce.

American Commercial Barge Line (ACBL) named Mark K. Knoy as its president and chief executive officer in August 2011. Prior to joining ACBL, he was vice president of American Electric Power’s (AEP) Fuel, Emissions and Logistics Group and president of AEP River Operations, having joined AEP with its 2001 purchase of MEMCO Barge Line. From 1984 to 1994, he was owner/operator of The Mark Twain Towing Company and Delmar Marine, Inc., Pekin, Illinois. He began his career in 1973 working aboard towboats on the inland waterways as a deck hand and then as a captain.

The Ports of Indiana handled nearly 3.9 million tons of cargo during the fourth quarter of 2016, the highest quarterly shipment total in the organization's 55-year history. The total surpassed the ports' previous quarterly record set in the second quarter of 2015 by 300,000 tons. The state's three ports' shipped nearly 11.3 million tons in 2016, the second highest volume in history and the third consecutive year the ports exceeded 10 million tons annually. Since 2014, the Ports of Indiana has handled 34 million tons of cargo, the highest three-year total since Indiana's ports opened. Major cargoes included coal, steel, grain, fertilizer and limestone.

Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Seaway shipping rebounded in August due to a surge in U.S. grain exports, iron ore shipment improvements and a steady flow of raw materials for manufacturing and construction. “We’ve seen a real rally in August. St. Lawrence Seaway cargo shipments were up 8 percent compared to the same month last year,” said Stephen Brooks, President of the Chamber of Marine Commerce. “U.S. grain exports now match last season’s strong performance. Iron ore shipments have improved as Canadian and U.S.

INDIANAPOLIS (Feb. 11, 2016) - The Ports of Indiana handled over 12.2 million tons of cargo in 2015, surpassing 2014's record volume by nearly 18 percent. This was the first time annual shipments exceeded 12 million tons in the port authority's 54-year history, and the total was more than 1.8 million tons more than the previous year's record. Shipments of coal, steel, bulk commodities and ethanol-related products helped drive significant increases in annual cargo volumes at the three Ohio River and Lake Michigan ports. Coal volumes increased 69 percent while ethanol shipments more than doubled, and dried distillers grains (DDGs) increased 64 percent from 2014.

The Port of Indiana-Burns Harbor handled 2.8 million tons of cargo in 2015, the second highest tonnage in over two decades. Following 2014's all-time record volume, the year marked only the third time the port handled 2.8 million tons or more in the port's 45-year history. Increased shipments of heavy-lift project cargoes (up 96 percent), carbon products (up 37 percent), limestone (up nearly 12 percent) and oils (up 72 percent) helped drive the increased volume. "Our port continues to be a major inland hub for heavy-lift cargoes as our terminal operators handled nearly double the number of large dimensional shipments during 2015 over the previous year," said Port Director Rick Heimann.

The Port of Indiana-Mount Vernon set a new annual shipping record in 2015 by handling over 6.6 million tons for the first time in its 40-year history. This was a 36-percent increase over 2014 and 30 percent higher than the previous record set in 1994. In addition to the record volume, it was also the highest annual increase in total tons handled at the port. "The credit for the record volume rightfully goes to our world-class port companies, without them we would not be enjoying the success we have today," said Port Director Phil Wilzbacher. Shipments of coal, agricultural products, steel as well as other bulk commodities helped drive the year's significant increase in cargo volume.

The Port of Indiana-Mount Vernon set a new annual shipping record in 2015 by handling over 6.6 million tons for the first time in its 40-year history. This was a 36-percent increase over 2014 and 30 percent higher than the previous record set in 1994. In addition to the record volume, it was also the highest annual increase in total tons handled at the port. "The credit for the record volume rightfully goes to our world-class port companies, without them we would not be enjoying the success we have today," said Port Director Phil Wilzbacher.

The Port of Indiana-Mount Vernon recorded the highest quarterly shipments by any port in Ports of Indiana's over 50-plus year history during the first quarter of 2015. This was the second consecutive quarter the port broke this record. First quarter shipments increased three percent over the fourth quarter of 2014 and were up 48 percent over 2014's first quarter. A key driver for the high volumes was a 36 percent increase in grain shipments. "Being located in the most fertile agricultural region in the world, grain is one of the largest volume commodities handled through the Port of Indiana-Mount Vernon," said Phil Wilzbacher, Port Director. "On an annual basis, port companies trade or process approximately 75 million bushels of corn, soybeans and wheat.

OJSC Magnitogorsk Iron and Steel Works (MMK) supplied 78,000 metric tons of metal products to shipbuilders in 2014, which represents a 37.2% growth year-on-year. MMK supplies up to half of all metal products sold to the Russian shipbuilding industry. Key customers of MMK include companies that are part of such groups as United Shipbuilding Corporation, Oka Shipyard, and Red Barricades Shipbuilding Plant. MMK production of steel for the shipbuilding industry has been expanded following the commissioning of the thick plate Mill 5000 in 2009. The thick plate mill can produce steel used in production for the Russian naval fleet, tankers, modern ice-class vessels.

The Ports of Indiana handled over 10.4 million tons of cargo in 2014, up nearly 26 percent from the previous year. This was the first time annual shipments exceeded 10 million tons in the port authority's 53-year history. The 2014 total was nearly 800,000 tons higher than the previous record set in 1994. Shipments of coal, agricultural products and steel helped drive significant increases in annual cargo volumes at the state's ports. Steel shipments more than doubled while grain shipments were up nearly 72 percent from 2013. Ethanol and dried distillers grains (DDGs) increased 54 percent and 51 percent, respectively, while salt shipments nearly tripled over the previous year.

With just one month left of the season, St. Lawrence Seaway cargo shipments are expected to finish ahead of 2013 after a remarkable year of grain exports and steel imports. According to the St. Lawrence Seaway, total cargo shipments reached 34.6 million metric tons for the period from March 25 to November 30 — up 5 percent over the same period last year. Seaway management expect the season will close ahead of last year by a similar margin. Grain shipments (Canadian and U.S.) tallied 10.1 million metric tons, up 44 percent over 2013.

Shipments through the St. Lawrence Seaway remained strong in October as North American manufacturers and cities stockpiled vital materials in advance of the coming winter and farmers relied on the waterway to export the new harvest. According to the St. Lawrence Seaway, total cargo tonnage from March 25 to October 31 reached 29.6 million metric tons, up 4.5 percent over the same period last year, as robust grain and steel shipments have more than offset a drop in iron ore shipments through the Seaway. “Autumn is typically the St.

U.S. ports post positive numbers. For the period March 22 to September 30, year-to-date total cargo shipments were 25.1 million metric tons, virtually flat over the same period in 2011, as reported by the St. Lawrence Seaway. “Cargo tonnage on the Seaway System remained relatively steady for the month of September,” said Rebecca Spruill, Director, Trade Development for the Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation. “These tonnage numbers reflect historical trading patterns for the month of September, with the noteworthy increase in shipments of windmill components.

The Ports of Indiana handled 8.1 million tons of cargo in 2011, the largest annual tonnage since 2006. New ethanol and dried distillers grains (DDGs) shipments combined with gains in limestone, salt and steel cargoes fueled a 5 percent increase in total shipments moving through Indiana's three ports. "Despite continued economic uncertainties, this was the fourth consecutive year our ports experienced growth," said Ports of Indiana CEO Rich Cooper. "Our 2011 shipments were nearly a million tons higher than the five year average. We've also seen a significant increase in capital investments by our port companies as they prepare for future growth. The Port of Indiana-Mount Vernon handled its largest annual tonnage since 1994 and the third highest in the port's 36-year history.

U.S. ports continued to post positive tonnage numbers in October. The Seaway’s year-to-date total cargo shipments from March 22 to October 31 were 29 million metric tons, up 2 percent from the same period last year. “With just two months left in the 2011 navigation season, the Seaway is on track to meet its projected seven percent improvement over last year’s tonnage performance,” says Rebecca Spruill, Director of Trade Development for the Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation.

Grain shipments through the St. Lawrence Seaway increased by 51 percent to 830,000 metric tons in August compared to the same period last year as international demand began to ramp up in the wake of production shortages in Russia. The St. Lawrence Seaway reported that American grain shipments reached 303,000 metric tons in August, an increase of 62 percent compared to the same period last year, while Canadian grain shipments increased by 45 percent to 527,000 metric tons. Year-to-date numbers, however, reflect an 18 percent increase to 743,000 metric tons for U.S. grain shipments and a 15 percent decrease to 2.8 million metric tons for Canadian grain shipments from March 25 to August 31compared to the same period in 2009.

The Maritime Exchange for the Delaware River and Bay, in a coordinated effort with business leaders and local longshore unions, today called on President Bush to repeal the Section 201 tariffs imposed on steel imports in March of last year. This action was taken following the release of the International Trade Commission (ITC) report on the effects of the steel tariffs on domestic steel-consuming industries and domestic steel producers. In a letter to President Bush, Maritime Exchange President Dennis Rochford, cited the adverse economic impact these tariffs have had on the tri-state regional port complex. "Steel ship arrivals will drop from 210 last year to 150 by the end of this year.

About 11,000 tons of Indiana-made steel will set sail for Spain. The Julietta arrived at the Port of Indiana-Burns Harbor and was being loaded with hot-rolled steel coils from Mittal Steel in East Chicago, Ind. This is the first export shipment of steel through the Port of Indiana since 2005. There were a few export steel shipments between 2003 and 2005 – just over 55,000 tons total. In 1995, the port handled an all-time high 243,000 tons of exported steel. The shipment is destined for Pasajes, Spain. Federal Marine Terminals, which serves as the port’s general cargo stevedore, will load the vessel today and tomorrow. Since the Port of Indiana also has year-round access to the inland river system…

Steel shipments helped the Ports of Indiana set a new record of $1.89b of cargo handled in 2006. This was a 23-percent increase from 2005, which had been the previous 36-year high. Steel accounted for $955 million of the 2006 shipments, a 45 percent increase from the previous year. The Ports of Indiana surpassed $1 billion in cargo shipments for the third consecutive year – the only three years this has been accomplished since Indiana’s first port opened in 1970. All three of Indiana’s ports on Lake Michigan and the Ohio River set individual records for total shipments in 2006 – Mount Vernon: $482 million (+20%), Jeffersonville: $588 million (+30%) and Burns Harbor/Portage: $820 million (+21%).

Despite heavy snow pounding the midwest and other northern areas of the U.S. in January, the average daily shipping rate of steel service centers still jumped 12.5 percent above December's rate. Despite the gain, shipments are just off 1998's record-setting pace to start this year, but are tracking above the strong rate posted in 1997. According to the Business Conditions Report of the Steel Service Center Institute (SSCI), the largest jump was seen in stainless products, which rose 19.9 percent above the previous month's daily shipping rate. The other six product categories all posted increases, ranging from a modest 2.4 percent gain, to a 15.8 percent increase.

Rickmers Antwerp, the sixth of nine new Superflex Heavy Multi-Purpose Container (MPC) vessels being built in China for Rickmers-Linie, the Hamburg-based global project liner and heavy lift specialist, was officially named in Antwerp, her name-sake city on 16 June 2003. The vessel, which is now operating within the company’s newly inaugurated Pearl String Service, was christened by Mrs Beb Van Mechelen, the wife of Mr Dirk Van Mechelen, the Flemish Minister for Finance and Budget, Innovation, the Media, Town and Country Planning. Bertram Rickmers and Jan Boje Steffens, CEO of Rickmers-Linie, met international business partners, officials and international journalists with a warm welcome to this event.