Great Lakes Iron Ore Trade Falls 23% in October

Shipments of iron ore on the Great Lakes totaled 5.3 million tons in October, a decrease of 23 percent compared to a year ago, according to the Lake Carriers’ Association (LCA). Shipments were down 9 percent from the month’s five-year average. 

 

Loadings at U.S. ports totaled 4.6 million tons in October, a decrease of 27.4 percent compared to a year ago, while shipments from Canadian ports totaled 725,000 tons, an increase of 24 percent.

 

Through October, the Lakes/Seaway ore trade stands at 44.4 million tons, a decrease of 6 percent compared to the same point in 2014. Shipments are down 6.6 percent compared to the five-year average for the January-October timeframe. Loadings at U.S. ports are down 9.6 percent compared to the corresponding period last year, and shipments from Canadian ports are up 29 percent.