General cargo shipments jump 60.51% on the seaway

General cargo shipments through the end of August drove an increase in overall cargo moved through the 3,700kilometre-long Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Seaway system, figures released Wednesday show.

St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corp. said overall cargo was up 5.21 per cent to the end of the month as compared to last year.

In a release, the Chamber of Marine Commerce said North American demand for manufacturing and building materials led to spikes in shipments of iron ore, steel, cement, stone and other raw materials.

The chamber is a binational association which represents more than 130 marine industry stakeholders on both sides of the border and internationally.

General cargo shipments were up 60.51 per cent, while iron ore shipments were up 29.36 per cent.

The chamber said the rise in general cargo shipments was mainly due to steel imports from European countries to cities throughout Ontario and the U.S. Great Lakes states.

The iron ore increase was due to the recovery of the domestic steel sector, with Canadianflagged ships transporting the cargo from Quebec mines to Canadian plants, the chamber said.

“The demand for steel and construction materials are a reflection of recovering industries domestically and internationally; these raw materials will be needed for months to come,” said seaway president and chief executive officer Terence Bowles.

Though anticipating grain volumes to be lower this autumn due to this summer’s unfavourable growing conditions in Canada and the U.S., Bowles said the seaway is encouraged by the increase in the transportation of goods.

Grain shipped through the seaway by the end of August was down 18.31 per cent. Liquid bulk shipments were down as well, with a 16.20 per cent decrease.

Dry bulk shipments were up 12.76 per cent, while coal saw an

increase of 0.12 per cent.