U.S. Great Lakes iron ore trade sharply down

CLEVELAND – Shipments of iron ore from U.S. ports on the Great Lakes totaled 5.1 million tons in September, a decrease of 5.6 percent compared to a year ago, reported the Lake Carriers Association. Shipments were below the month’s 5-year average by 6.5 percent.

Year-to-date, the iron ore trade stands at 29.2 million tons, a decrease of nearly 21.8 percent compared to the same point in 2021.

Through September iron ore loadings are 20.1 percent below their 5-year average for the first three quarters.

Since 1880, the LCA has represented the U.S.-flag Great Lakes fleet, which today can move more than 90 million tons of cargos annually, including iron ore, stone, coal, cement, and other dry bulk materials such as grain, salt, and sand.  ( photo of Upper-Harbor-Ore-Dock-in-Marquette-MI: David Schaver/ Boatnerd)