U.S.-Flag Lakes Float Down 8.6 Percent in August
CLEVELAND—U.S.-flag Great Lakes freighters (“lakers”) carried 9.5 million tons of dry-bulk cargo in August, a decrease of 10.1 percent compared to July, and 8.6 percent less than the volume recorded a year ago. The August float was also 7 percent below the month’s 5-year average.
Iron ore cargos for the steel industry in August totaled 4.5 million tons, a decrease of 5.2 percent compared to a year ago. Coal cargos fell to 1.7 million tons, or almost 20 percent compared to August 2011.