Despite Strong Finish, Lakes Coal Comes Up Short in 2014
CLEVELAND – A nearly 1-million ton increase in coal shipments on the Great Lakes in December was not enough to enable the trade to outperform 2013. Shipments for the year totaled 24.5 million tons, a slight decrease compared to 2013.
The December surge was possible because heavy ice did not form on the Lakes until January of this year. Shipments totaled 3.1 million tons, an increase of 43 percent compared to a year ago. Shipments from Superior, Wisconsin, rose by 39 percent. Loadings at Lake Erie terminals soared by more than 70 percent.