Iron and steel shipments up 35 per cent on St. Lawrence Seaway

As of the end of August, 19.5 million metric tons of cargo have been shipped on the St. Lawrence Seaway so far this season, making it a key binational system in the North American supply chain.

“The Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Seaway System continues to provide shippers a reliable route for a diverse range of commodities flowing in and out of the U.S. heartland,” said Adam Tindall-Schlicht, administrator, Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation (GLS). “Cargo numbers continue to improve thanks to the dedicated workers at U.S. and Canadian ports and on the vessels who are keeping vital products like grain and steel moving efficiently through the Great Lakes maritime supply chain.”

Cargos which showed significant increases compared to the same period in 2023 are:

• Grain: 5.2 million metric tons of Canadian and U.S. grain, up by 277,000 mt or 5.6 per cent
• Potash: 849 thousand metric tons of Potash, a product mined in the prairies and used in agricultural fertilizers, up by 145,000 mt or 21 per cent
• Petroleum: 1.8 million metric tons of petroleum products, up by 385, 000 mt or 27 per cent
• Iron and steel: 1.3 million metric tons of iron and steel, up by 347,000 mt or 35 per cent

“The St. Lawrence Seaway is a vital link in the supply chain that keeps our economies moving,” said Jim Athanasiou, president and CEO of the GLS. “Marine shipping on the Seaway is an environmentally friendly method for transporting goods. That’s why we’re actively working with the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation on initiatives like the Green Shipping Corridor to further increase our sustainability.”

The Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Seaway System supports over 350,000 jobs across the U.S. and Canada, shipping food, materials and fuels.

As the season progresses, GLS expects tonnage levels to remain on trend.