U.S.-Flag Float Up For First Time This Season In July

 Cargo movement in U.S.-Flag lakers totaled 13.2 million tons in July. That total represents the first time this season U.S.-Flag carriage outpaced the corresponding period last year.
 
Two major factors figure in the increase. A new vessel, the GREAT LAKES TRADER, entered service. The self-unloading barge has a per-trip capacity of nearly 40,000 tons. Also, there were less split loads in the long-haul coal trade.
 
Iron ore cargos for the steel industry increased nearly 1.1 million tons in July. Steel production rates remain high and transshipments were much stronger this July compared to 1999. For the season, the U.S.-Flag ore float stands at 28.3 million tons, an increase of 3.5 percent.
 
July coal loadings were down by 320,000 tons and for the season they trail last year's end-of-July total by 1.1 million tons. While low water levels account for some of this decrease, a major U.S. utility has increased rail deliveries to one of its powerplants.
 
The U.S.-Flag stone trade registered a small increase in July and for the season is 125,000 tons ahead of last year's pace.
 
U.S.-FLAG CARRIAGE
JULY AND SEASON-TO-DATE: 2000 - 1999
(net tons)

Commodity

July 2000

July 1999

S-T-D 2000

S-T-D 1999

Iron Ore (a)

6,983,356

5,903,930

28,334,070

27,364,977

Coal - Western

1,283,980

1,585,325

5,739,547

6,417,766

Coal - Eastern

771,714

800,515

3,221,891

3,615,009

Total - Coal

2,055,694

2,385,840

8,961,438

10,032,775

Limestone, Gypsum

3,517,086

3,425,546

13,024,616

12,900,973

Cement

471,286

528,611

1,984,316(b)

2,082,229

Salt

118,870

158,000

515,913

651,000

Sand

37,205

59,005

103,912

133,327

Grain

12,838

0

83,714

123,352

Totals

13,196,335

12,460,932

53,007,979

53,288,633

(a) Includes Lorain/Cleveland shuttle.
(b) June total revised to 457,739 tons.

ggn@lcaships.com
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