The following news release was issued by the Lake Carriers’ Association on September 18.
U.S.-Flag Cargo Movement on Lakes Tops 10 Million Tons in August
U.S.-flag Great Lakes freighters (lakers) moved 10 million tons of cargo in August, a near repeat of a year ago. The August float was also largely in line with the month’s 5-year average.
Iron ore cargos for steel production totaled 5 million tons, an increase of 6.8 percent compared to a year ago, and the second consecutive month in which ore shipments topped 5 million tons.
Coal loads totaled 1.6 million tons, a slight increase over a year ago. Shipments of aggregate, fluxstone, chemical stone and scrubber stone totaled 2.9 million tons, a decrease of 10 percent compared to a year ago.
Year-to-date U.S.-flag cargo movement stands at 48.4 million tons, a decrease of 4.1 percent compared to the same point in 2017. Iron ore cargos total 26.55 million tons, a decrease of 3.7 percent. Coal loadings total 6.5 million tons, a decrease of 13.7 percent. Limestone tops 12.8 million tons, an increase of 2.3 percent.
About Lake Carriers’ Association
Lake Carriers’ Association (“LCA”) represents 13 American companies that operate 45 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. For more information contact Glen Nekvasil – 440-333-9996 / [email protected].
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