Great Lakes Iron Ore Trade Up 7% in November

Shipments of iron ore on the Great Lakes totaled 5.5 million tons in November, an increase of 7% compared to a year ago.  The November ore float was also 4.1% ahead of the month’s five-year average, but trailed October by 7.7%.

Shipments from U.S. ports totaled 4.9 million tons, an increase of almost 10% compared to a year ago.  The November total included 366,000 tons shipped to Québec City for loading into oceangoing vessels and delivery overseas.  Year-to-date overseas exports from U.S. Great Lakes ports total 2,883,000 tons.  Through November of last year, overseas exports from U.S. ports totaled 3,544,000 tons.

Shipments from Canadian ports to Great Lakes destinations totaled 619,000 tons in November, a decrease of 9.3% compared to a year ago.

Year-to-date, the Lakes iron ore trade stands at 53.2 million tons, a decrease of 3.6% compared to a year ago.  Loadings are 2.1% below the long-term average for the January-November timeframe.

Lake Carriers’ Association represents 17 American companies that operate 57 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 salt, sand and grain.  Collectively, these vessels can transport more than 115 million tons of cargo per year. 

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