Logistics
June 10, 2025
US Great Lakes iron ore cargoes down notably through May
Written by Laura Miller
US ports on the Great Lakes have seen a considerable decline in iron ore shipments through May, according to the latest data from the Lake Carriers’ Association (LCA).
LCA, based in Westlake, Ohio, has represented US-flag operators on the Great Lakes since 1880. It currently represents 13 member companies that operate 43 commercial cargo vessels on the lakes.
The association reported May ore shipments of 5 million tons were 7.7% lower than May last year and 3.1% below the month’s 5-year average.
Year-to-date shipments through May, at 11.7 million tons, were down even more markedly: 18.6% from the first four months of last year and 11.8% from the same period’s five-year average.
One possible reason for the declining shipments involves Cleveland-Cliffs. Although the steelmaker plans to restart the C-6 furnace at its Cleveland Works by mid-July, it also intends to temporarily idle a larger furnace at its Dearborn Works in Michigan. The Cleveland furnace has a lower daily ironmaking capacity, at 4,150 short tons per day, compared to Dearborn’s 6,000 short tons, according to SMU’s Blast Furnace Status table.
