St. Lawrence Seaway overall cargo volumes up 5 percent

August 25, 2021

The Chamber of Marine Commerce reports that overall cargo volumes on the St. Lawrence Seaway through to the end of July reached 16.7 million metric tons, 5 per cent ahead of 2020 totals, boosted by strong shipments of cement, steel and steel-making materials.

Year-to-date iron ore shipments via the Seaway reached 3.5 million metric tons from March 22 through July, a 23 per cent increase over the same period in 2020. Canadian-flag ships are transporting iron ore from Quebec mines via the Seaway to supply domestic steel manufacturing in Canada.

Meanwhile, cement shipments through the Seaway topped 1 million metric tons through July, up 25 per cent from last year, with cargo moving from manufacturing plants in Ontario and Quebec to cities throughout those provinces and across the border to Cleveland, Buffalo and Toledo.

General cargo shipments totaled 1.6 million metric tons up 52% over the same period in 2020. This major increase continues to be driven by steel imports from Europe and other countries heading to Canadian and U.S. cities throughout the region, to help support pent-up demand for manufactured goods and construction activity.

The strong overall cargo performance comes despite a decline (-12 per cent) in Canadian and U.S. grain shipments. The 2020 carryover of grain has largely been shipped already and new Canadian Prairies and American mid-west harvests are expected to be smaller following hot, dry weather conditions.

Source: Chamber of Marine Commerce