U.S.-Flag Lakes Trade Soars In January
The surge in demand for iron ore that developed in late 2003 translated into one of the strongest Januarys for the U.S.-flag Great Lakes fleet in recent memory. U.S.-flag lakers moved 3.5 million net tons of iron ore in January, an increase of nearly 70 percent when compared to a year ago, and 52 percent when compared to the month's 5-year average. The iron ore total also reflects the one-time extension of the closing date for the locks at Sault Ste, Marie, Michigan. To meet demand, the January 15 closing was extended to January 24, and during that period, U.S.-flag lakers carried an additional 536,000 net tons of iron ore from Lake Superior ports. Iron ore continued to move from Escanaba, Michigan, until early February.
U.S.-flag coal cargos totaled 650,000 net tons in January, nearly a five-fold increase compared to a year ago. Compared to the month's 5-year average, the January U.S.-flag coal float represents an increase of more than 50 percent. That total includes nearly 200,000 tons of western coal that were delivered to Lake Superior destinations after January 15. Coal shipments from Lake Erie and Lake Michigan ports in U.S.-flag lakers continued until January 11 and 19 respectively.
| U.S.-Flag Dry-Bulk Carriage on the Great Lakes | ||||||
| January 2000-2004 and 5-Year Average | ||||||
| (net tons) | ||||||
| January | January | January | January | January | 5-Year | |
| Commodity | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | Average |
| Iron Ore | ||||||
| Direct Shipments | 2,413,343 | 1,069,792 | 1,422,395 | 2,099,821 | 3,264,388 | 2,053,948 |
| Transshipments | 469,530 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 286,765 | 151,259 |
| Total - Iron Ore | 2,882,873 | 1,069,792 | 1,422,395 | 2,099,821 | 3,551,153 | 2,205,207 |
| Coal | ||||||
| Lake Superior | 181,166 | 289,737 | 0 | 19,499 | 298,817 | 157,844 |
| Lake Michigan | 48,861 | 81,006 | 103,852 | 74,184 | 182,194 | 98,019 |
| Lake Erie | 241,246 | 311,748 | 95,849 | 44,522 | 171,457 | 172,964 |
| Total - Coal | 471,273 | 682,491 | 199,701 | 138,205 | 652,468 | 428,828 |
| Limestone | 25,090 | 0 | 0 | 24,245 | 80,626 | 25,992 |
| Cement | 114,812 | 95,580 | 174,040 | 94,309 | 134,690 | 122,686 |
| Salt | 0 | 0 | 0 | 50,212 | 11,946 | 12,432 |
| Sand | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Grain | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Totals | 3,494,048 | 1,847,863 | 1,796,136 | 2,406,792 | 4,430,883 | 2,795,144 |
| U.S.-Flag Carriage Year-To-Date 2000-2004 and 5-Year Average | ||||||
| (net tons) | ||||||
| 5-Year | ||||||
| Commodity | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | Average |
| Iron Ore | ||||||
| Direct Shipments | 2,413,343 | 1,069,792 | 1,422,395 | 2,099,821 | 3,264,388 | 2,053,948 |
| Transshipments | 469,530 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 286,765 | 151,259 |
| Total - Iron Ore | 2,882,873 | 1,069,792 | 1,422,395 | 2,099,821 | 3,551,153 | 2,205,207 |
| Coal | ||||||
| Lake Superior | 181,166 | 289,737 | 0 | 19,499 | 298,817 | 157,844 |
| Lake Michigan | 48,861 | 81,006 | 103,852 | 74,184 | 182,194 | 98,019 |
| Lake Erie | 241,246 | 311,748 | 95,849 | 44,522 | 171,457 | 172,964 |
| Total - Coal | 471,273 | 682,491 | 199,701 | 138,205 | 652,468 | 428,828 |
| Limestone | 25,090 | 0 | 0 | 24,245 | 80,626 | 25,992 |
| Cement | 114,812 | 95,580 | 174,040 | 94,309 | 134,690 | 122,686 |
| Salt | 0 | 0 | 0 | 50,212 | 11,946 | 12,432 |
| Sand | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Grain | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Totals | 3,494,048 | 1,847,863 | 1,796,136 | 2,406,792 | 4,430,883 | 2,795,144 |
