Coal loadings at Lake Erie ports in May totaled 2.1 million net tons, a decrease of 14 percent compared to a year ago. Since the resumption of coal loadings in mid March, the trade stands at 4.6 million tons, a decrease of 23 percent.
While some fall-off was expected - Lake Erie coal got off to one of its fastest starts ever in 2000 - the season to date total reflects significant problems with coal availability. A wet spring in the coal fields has flooded some mines and impacted processing at others.
May Lake Erie Coal Loadings By Dock
(net tons)
Port | May 2001 | May 2000 | Season To Date 2001 | Season To Date 2000 |
| Toledo | 457,365 | 618,444 | 891,009 | 1,347,043 |
| Sandusky | 463,027 | 475,865 | 1,003,590 | 1,024,342 |
| Ashtabula | 646,251 | 697,735 | 1,417,990 | 2,037,041 |
| Conneaut | 531,250 | 646,967 | 1,438,657 | 1,519,966 |
| Totals | 2,097,893 | 2,439,011 | 4,571,064 | 5,928,392 |