Preliminary statistics released today by the St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation confirm a strong increase in grain shipments offsetting a sharp decline in steel-related cargoes hit by 50% tariffs imposed by the Trump Administration on steel and aluminum imports. Total estimated 2025 volume on the binational waterway amounted to 37 million tonnes versus 36.9 million tonnes in 2024 – representing an increase of 0.15%.
Grain throughput surged by 9.4% to 12.9 million tonnes. Dry bulk and liquid bulk increased respectively by 2.4% and 0.61%.
General cargo (including steel shipments) plunged by nearly 30% to 2.1 million tonnes. Coal dropped by 16.2% to 1.6 million tonnes. Iron ore declined by 2.1% to 4.9 million tonnes.
Vessel transits dipped slightly to 3,937.
(SLSMC photo)