U.S.-Flag Lakers’ Cargo Up Nearly 4 Percent in August
CLEVELAND—U.S.-flag Great Lakes freighters (“lakers”) carried 10.4 million tons of dry-bulk cargo in August, a decrease of 6.6 percent compared to July, but an increase of 3.7 percent compared to a year ago. The August “float” was also largely in line with the month’s 5-year average.
Iron ore cargos for the steel industry increased 8 percent compared to a year ago. Limestone cargos for construction, steel production, and environmental uses jumped almost 21 percent, but coal for power generation and steel production slumped again, this time by more than 16 percent.