U.S.-Flag Lakers’ Cargo Up 5-plus Percent in July
CLEVELAND—U.S.-flag Great Lakes freighters (“lakers”) carried 11.1 million tons of dry-bulk cargo in July, an increase of 10.9 percent compared to June, and an increase of 5.2 percent compared to a year ago. The July “float” was also 2.1 percent above the month’s 5-year average.
Iron ore cargos for the steel industry increased 17 percent compared to a year ago, but coal for power generation and steel production fell by 11.4 percent. Aggregate and fluxstone for the construction and steel industries slipped by 3.8 percent.