GLIN==> FW: U.S.-Flag Lakes Cargo Total Down More Than 40 Percent in August

The season-long slump in U.S.-Flag shipping on the Great Lakes continued
in August.  The major U.S.-Flag carriers hauled only 7.2 million tons of
dry-bulk cargo, a decrease of more than 40 percent compared to both a
year ago and the month's 5-year average.

 

Although the nation's steel mills are reporting small increases in
production, the August iron ore total was one of the lowest recorded
this season: 2,049,093.

 

The coal trade was lackluster in August.  The peak of summer normally
has the region's utilities taking every ton they can get, but shipments
in U.S.-Flag lakers totaled 2.4 million tons, a decrease of 17.2
percent.

 

The 38 percent decrease in limestone cargos was not unexpected.  Demand
is so down that four vessels that depend on the stone trade were out of
service for lengthy periods of time in August.

 

Higher water levels did allow for one iron ore cargo to top 68,000 tons.
Even so, the cargo was roughly 4,000 tons below the record for U.S.-Flag
lakers.  Furthermore, the Lakes should soon begin their seasonal
decline, so the lack of adequate dredging by the U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers will more and more impact cargo totals in the fourth quarter.

 

For the year, U.S.-Flag carriage stands at 35.6 million tons, a decrease
of 43.6 percent compared to a year ago.  Compared to the 5-year average
for the January-August timeframe, loadings in U.S. bottoms are down 45.3
percent.

 

See attached reports for more details.

 

Glen G. Nekvasil

Vice President-Corporate Communications

Lake Carriers' Association

Suite 720

20325 Center Ridge Road

Rocky River, OH  44116

   P:  440-333-9996

   F:  440-333-9993

   C:  216-702-6360

   E:  nekvasil at lcaships.com

 




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