Sharp Increase In Great Lakes Iron Ore Shipments

Iron Ore Shipments Doubled In April

Iron ore shipments on the Great Lakes in April showed a 146 percent increase over last year, according to figures just released by the Lake Carriers Association.

A total of 5.4 million tons were shipped from U.S. and Canadian Lakes and Seaway ports as a recovery in the steelmaking industry drove demand for iron ore higher.

Shipments from Two Harbors and Silver Bay were higher than they've been in any of the last five Aprils. Duluth shipments topped the five–year average, but Superior's shipments were lower than all of the last five years.

Great Lakes Iron Ore Shipments Soar In March

Iron ore shipments on the Great Lakes were higher in March than in any other March since 2006 as the American steel industry continues to pull out of recession.

The Lake Carriers' Association says its ore boats shipped 2,109,911 net tons in March. However, the year-to-date figure of 4.1 million tons is still 13% lower than the five-year average for the first quarter.


Duluth, Two Harbors, and Silver Bay all beat the five-year averages for March ore shipments. Superior didn't ship any iron ore at all last month. The locks at Sault Ste. Marie, Mich. opened on March 21, four days ahead of schedule, to accommodate the need for iron ore at steel plants.

Great Lakes Iron Ore Shipments Up 156 Per Cent In January

Iron ore shipments from the Great Lakes on US-flagged ships rose by 156 per cent in January compared with January 2009.

Ships moved 2.4 million ton of cargo in January compared with 918,981 tons in January 2009 and 3.8 million tons in January 2008.

The Ohio-based Lake Carriers Association said the bulk of the cargo was related to the steel industry with about 1.8 million tons of iron ore making up the monthly total.

The Great Lakes fleet is now in winter lay-up with the last delivery taking place Feb. 1.