Strong Steel Shipments Seen on St. Lawrence Seaway

Coke shipments saw a significant year-on-year rise, increasing nearly 32% to 1.154 million metric tons through August, and scrap metal shipments rose 29% to 35,000 metric tons.

“Great Lakes port activity in August highlights the critical role that the Seaway’s maritime supply chain plays in delivering steel in support of the Midwest manufacturing sector,” said Craig H. Middlebrook, deputy administrator of the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corp.

August shipments of steel and wind energy materials were notable in Chicago’s Illinois International Port District, and the Port of Cleveland and Port of Detroit were noted as destinations receiving a high volume of inbound steel shipments. The Port of Toledo received multiple shipments of aluminum during the month.

Estimates are that US Great Lakes ports traded with at least 23 different countries during the month of August, down slightly from 27 the month prior.

The Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway System is a major trade artery 2,300 miles (3,700 kilometers) long, directly serving the states of Illinois, Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Wisconsin, Minnesota, New York, and Pennsylvania in the US and the provinces of Ontario and Quebec in Canada.

By Laura Miller, Laura@SteelMarketUpdate.com