U.S.-Flag cargo movement on the Great Lakes totaled 8.3 million net tons in April, a decrease of 19.2 percent compared to the corresponding period last year and likely the lowest April total in more than a decade.
Continued reduced demand for iron ore accounted for the decrease. Direct shipments of iron ore fell 25 percent to 3.8 million tons. With a number of blast furnaces idle, a decrease of unavoidable, but shipments also suffered from high inventories at certain Great Lakes basin steel mills. Transshipments of iron ore from Lorain, Ohio, to Cleveland have yet to resume following the closure of LTV Steel last December.
The coal and limestone trades were virtually unchanged from a year ago, but it should be noted these totals represent a decline from levels achieved just a few years ago. The stone trade in particular has suffered from reduced steel production and a slowing in major construction projects in the region.
The U.S.-Flag Great Lakes fleet began April with 27 of its 67 vessels in service. During the month another 24 vessels were activated. As of today (May 13), the active fleet stands at 54 vessels.
U.S.-FLAG CARRIAGE
APRIL AND SEASON-TO-DATE: 2002 - 2001
(net tons)
Commodity | April 2002 | April 2001 | S-T-D 2002 | S-T-D 2001 |
| Iron Ore - Direct Shipments | 3,810,015 | 5,028,052 | 4,904,014 | 6,426,614 |
| Iron Ore - Transshipments | 0 | 687,899 | 0 | 1,225,360 |
Total - Iron Ore | 3,810,015 | 5,715,951 | 4,904,014 | 7,651,974 |
| Coal - Western | 1,105,148 | 1,213,608 | 1,402,544 | 1,545,228 |
| Coal - Eastern | 694,954 | 591,499 | 958,585 | 811,716 |
Total - Coal | 1,800,102 | 1,805,107 | 2,361,129 | 2,356,944 |
| Limestone | 2,289,291 | 2,287,855 | 2,465,509 | 2,364,722 |
| Cement | 270,123 | 321,373 | 455,685 | 531,585 |
| Salt | 107,467 | 101,920 | 119,625 | 145,153 |
| Sand | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Grain | 15,677 | 32,165 | 15,677 | 32,165 |
| Totals | 8,292,675 | 10,264,371 | 10,311,639 | 13,082,543 |
In addition to the 12 U.S.-Flag Lakes operators who comprise Lake Carriers' Association, this survey includes Andrie, Inc.
(cement only), Great Lakes Associates (grain), Pere Marquette Shipping Company and Upper Lakes Towing Company, Inc.
(both various dry-bulk cargos).
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For more information, contact Glen Nekvasil (216-861-0592).