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    July 9, 2026

    Great Lakes iron ore trade picks up in June

    Written by Laura Miller

    Iron ore shipments on the Great Lakes picked up in June, and year-to-date (YTD) shipments show improvement over last year.

    The Lake Carriers’ Association (LCA), which represents the US-flag Great Lakes fleet, reported 5.1 million short tons (st) of ore shipments in June, a 4.5% year-over-year (y/y) increase. June’s shipments are “a near match” to the month’s five-year average, LCA said.

    YTD shipments of 17.3 million st are up 4.2% from last year. However, YTD ore shipments are 4.6% below their five-year average.

    By port, YTD shipments show y/y improvements at Superior, Wisc.; Marquette, Mich.; Cleveland; and Ashtabula, Ohio, according to LCA’s data.

    Laura Miller

    Laura Miller is a reporter and editor for Steel Market Update. She has held various editorial positions with steel industry publications, associations, and mills since 2007. She joined the SMU team in 2022. She is a member of the Association of Women in the Metal Industries and a past-president of the AWMI Pittsburgh Chapter. She holds a BA in Latin American Studies from Edinboro University of Pennsylvania.

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