Salt shipments on the Great Lakes in U.S. and Canadian vessels totaled 6.7 million net tons in 2000, a decrease of 4.6 percent. The mild winter of 1999/2000 played a major role in the decrease; many municipalities did not use as much salt to de-ice roads and so did not need to replenish stockpiles to the degree required in previous years.
Great Lakes Salt Trade: 2000-1991
(net tons)
Navigation Season | Total |
| 2000 | 6,710,614 |
| 1999 | 7,032,755 |
| 1998 | 8,424,230 |
| 1997 | 8,386,689 |
| 1996 | 8,096,294 |
| 1995 | 6,717,037 |
| 1994 | 7,510,169 |
| 1993 | 6,435,125 |
| 1992 | 5,410,888 |
| 1991 | 5,577,215 |
| 10-Year Total | 70,301,016 |