The Lake Carriers’ Association issued the following news release on August 21.
U.S.-Flag Cargo Movement on Lakes Steady Again in July
U.S.-flag Great Lakes freighters (lakers) moved 9.8 million tons of cargo in July, a virtual tie with a year ago. The July float was, however, 6.4 percent below the month’s 5-year average.
Iron ore cargos for steel production totaled 5.2 million tons, an increase of 5 percent. The July ore float was also the highest monthly total for U.S.-flag lakers since December 2014.
Coal loads totaled 1.3 million tons, a decrease of nearly 11 percent. Shipments of aggregate, fluxstone, chemical stone and scrubber stone totaled 2.7 million tons, a decrease of 3 percent compared to a year ago.
Year-to-date U.S.-flag cargo movement stands at 38.35 million tons, a decrease of 4.8 percent compared to the same point in 2017. Iron ore cargos total 21.5 million tons, a decrease of 5.9 percent. Coal loadings total 4.9 million tons, a decrease of 17.5 percent. Limestone tops 9.9 million tons, an increase of 6.4 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 116,00 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].
# # #
Comments are closed.