A 7.8 percent decrease in iron ore cargos has produced the second month in a row in which U.S.-Flag carriage on the Lakes fell below the previous year's level. Cargo movement in U.S.-Flag lakers totaled 13.3 million net tons in September, a decrease of 1.3 percent compared to the corresponding period last year.
Record high levels of dumped foreign steel pushed iron ore shipments in U.S. bottoms in September down to 6,265,187 tons, a decrease of 7.8 percent compared to last September. For the season, the U.S.-Flag ore float stands at 43.6 million tons, an increase of 4 percent.
Coal loadings in U.S.-Flag lakers in September were essentially unchanged from a year ago, but for the season, the coal trade in U.S. bottoms, 15.1 million tons, represents a decrease of 3.8 percent. The mild winter of 1997-1998 left many utilities with extra large stockpiles of coal and inventory adjustments continue.
The stone trade remained a bright spot for U.S.-Flag shipping in September, rising to 3. 9 million tons, an 8.9 percent increase. Since the resumption of stone loadings in mid-March, the U.S.-Flag float has increased 7.8 percent to 22.5 million tons.
Salt cargos in Jones Act-qualified lakers doubled to 165,000 tons in September and for the season, stand at 860,000 tons, an increase of nearly 40 percent. These facts fly in the face of statements made by Cabotage law critics who contend there are no Jones Act-qualifed vessels available to move salt between American ports on the Great Lakes.
Through September, U.S.-Flag carriage stands at 85.5 million tons, an increase of 3.2 percent.
| Commodity | September 1998 |
September 1997 |
Season to Date 1998 |
Season to Date 1997 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iron Ore (a) | 6,265,187 | 6,795,791 | 43,600,103 | 41,912,972 |
| Coal - Western | 1,428,238 | 1,374,758 | 9,216,678 | 9,350,476 |
| Coal, Coke - Eastern | 981,545 | 1,078,104 | 5,915,004 | 6,478,698 |
| Total - Coal | 2,409,783 | 2,452,862 | 15,131,682 | 15,829,174 |
| Limestone, Gypsum | 3,919,884 | 3,599,817 | 22,513,341 | 20,891,368 |
| Cement | 478,612 | 460,269 | 2,977,317 | 2,868,476 |
| Salt | 164,861 | 83,478 | 858,984 | 617,321 |
| Sand | 36,699 | 36,455 | 205,227 | 224,182 |
| Grain | 57,741 | 87,558 | 222,817 | 524,725 |
| Totals - All Commodities | 13,332,767 | 13,516,230 | 85,509,471 | 82,868,218 |
(a) Includes Lorain/Cleveland transshipments
Notes: Given the limited number of gypsum producers (two), that commodity must be combined with limestone to insure confidentiality. Cargo totals represent the members of Lake Carriers' Association and the following: Great Lakes Associates; Upper Lakes Barge; Upper Lakes Towing; Andrie, Inc. (cement only); and Merce Transportation.
The tracking of liquid-bulk cargos has been suspended pending implementation of a new reporting system.