U.S.-Flag Cargo Movement on Lakes in November Mirrors A Year Ago

U.S.-flag Great Lakes freighters (lakers) moved 8.6 million tons of cargo in November, a virtual repeat of a year ago.  The November float was also a near carbon copy of the month’s 5-year average.

Iron ore cargos for steel production totaled 4.6 million tons, an increase of 9.6 percent compared to a year ago.

Coal loads totaled 1.3 million tons, again little changed from a year ago.  Shipments of aggregate, fluxstone, chemical stone and scrubber stone totaled 2.3 million tons, a decrease of 8 percent compared to a year ago.

Year-to-date U.S.-flag cargo movement stands at 75.3 million tons, a decrease of 4.2 percent compared to the same point in 2017.  Iron ore cargos total 40.6 million tons, a decrease of 2.2 percent.  Coal loadings total 10.3 million tons, a decrease of 14.7 percent.  Limestone totals 20.6 million tons, an increase of 88,000 tons compared to a year ago.