The Lake Carriers’ Association has issued the following news brief, dated September 3:
U.S.-Flag Cargo Movement on Lakes Increases in July
CLEVELAND — U.S.-flag Great Lakes freighters (lakers) moved 11.4 million tons of cargo in July, an increase of 16.4 percent from a year ago. The July float was also 10.2 percent above the month’s 5-year average.
Iron ore cargos for steel production totaled 6.2 million tons, an increase of 18.2 percent. The July ore float was 24.6 percent above the 5-year average for July.
Coal loads totaled 1.2 million tons, a decrease of nearly 6.1 percent. Shipments of aggregate, fluxstone, chemical stone and scrubber stone totaled 3.4 million tons, an increase of 23.9 percent compared to a year ago.
Year-to-date U.S.-flag cargo movement stands at 43.69 million tons, an increase of 13.9 percent compared to the same point in 2018. Iron ore cargos total 24.5 million tons, an increase of 14.1 percent. Coal loadings total 5.5 million tons, an increase of 11.8 percent. Limestone tops 11.1 million tons, an increase of 12.4 percent.
About Lake Carriers’ Association
Lake Carriers’ Association (“LCA”) represents 13 American companies that operate 46 U.S.-flag vessels (“lakers”) on the Great Lakes and carry the raw materials that drive the nation’s economy: iron ore and fluxstone for the steel industry, aggregate and cement for the construction industry, coal for power generation, as well as salt, sand and grain. Collectively, its members can transport more than 90 million tons of dry-bulk cargo per year and employ more than 1,600 men and women, all of whom are U.S. citizens or legally admitted aliens, and provide annual wages and benefits of approximately $125 million. In turn, the cargos its members carry create and sustain nearly 116,000 jobs in the eight Great Lakes states and generate more than $20 billion in economic activity, $8.3 billion in personal income, $16.4 billion in business revenue, $4.1 billion in local purchases and $3.7 billion in taxes. More information is available at www.lcaships.com.
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