US-flag Lakes Cargos Down in October

U.S.-flag Great Lakes freighters (lakers) moved 8.8 million tons of cargo in October, a decrease of 9.2 percent compared to a year ago, and 10.2 percent below the month’s five-year average, according to the Lake Carriers’ Association (LCA). October was also the sixth consecutive month in which cargos trailed the previous year.

Iron ore cargos for the steel industry totaled 4.4 million tons in October, an increase of 5.3 percent compared to a year ago. However, coal shipments to power plants and steel mills fell to 1.3 million tons, a decrease of 43 percent, LCA said. Limestone for construction projects and steel production totaled 2.6 million tons, a decrease of 6.7 percent compared to a year ago.

Year-over-year U.S.-flag carriage stands at 67.8 million tons, a decrease of 5.7 percent. Iron ore cargos are up 4.1 percent, but coal loads have dipped 26.4 percent. Limestone shipments trail last year by 6.7 percent.