Market Data
April 6, 2026
Great Lakes’ iron ore shipments plummet in March
Written by Kristen DiLandro
Iron ore shipments on the Great Lakes in March were down 23.5% from a year earlier, according to the latest report by Lake Carriers’ Association.
The report states that March’s loadings fell 35.1% below the month’s five-year average.
The year-to-date iron ore trade totaled 2.7 million short tons (st), a 7.7% decrease from 2025. Iron ore shipments in the first three months of 2026 were 21.2% below the five-year average.
Seven ports are included in the report. In March, two of three Minnesota ports increased shipments compared to March 2025, and one shipped fewer tons. One Wisconsin port increased shipments while another shipped fewer tons than in the previous year. The operational Ohio-based port in Cleveland shipped less than in 2025. No shipments have been recorded from Ashtabula, Ohio, since 2021.
The Lake Carriers’ Association, based in Westlake, Ohio, represents the US-flag Great Lakes fleet.
