Analysis
September 8, 2025
Great Lakes iron ore shipments declined in August
Written by Kristen DiLandro
Shipments of iron ore across the Great Lakes dropped to 5 million short tons (st) in August, according to the latest data from the Lake Carriers’ Association.
That’s down 9.1% compared to August 2024 and 2% lower than the month’s 5-year average.
All told, the year-to-date (YTD) iron ore volumes through August totaled 26.7 million st, a 13.9% decrease for the same period in 2024. That figure is also 6.4% below the five-year average for the first eight months of the year, the association said.
The Lake Carriers’ Association reported August findings on Sept 4. It has represented the US-flag Great Lakes fleet since 1880. The Great Lakes fleet can move more than 90 million st of cargo annually.
