Economic Impact
Annually about 160 million tons of cargo, valued at $15 billion, moves on the Great Lakes in commercial ships. The U.S.-flag Great Lakes fleet moves between 80 and 90 million tons of those cargoes carrying up to 70,000 tons each trip. 2023 Economic Impact Study.
- 147,464 U.S. jobs with $17.8 billion in salaries
- $6.3 billion local, state and federal taxes
- $28 billion regional business revenue
- $36 billion Great Lakes economic impact
