Iron Ore Volume Rises at Seaway

St. Lawrence Seaway reported year over year growth in August for both Montreal/Lake Ontario and the Welland Canal that links Lake Ontario with Lake Erie. Overall, combined general cargo totaled 18.71 million tons through the month of August 2010, compared with 15.27 million tons through July 2009, an increase of 22.5 percent.

Iron ore volume made the biggest gains at Seaway, signaling recovery in the Great Lakes region steel industry. As of the end of August, iron ore volume reached 5.92 million tons compared with 3.25 million tons in 2009, an increase of 82 percent.

Total combined transits for the year to date reached 1,984 last month, an increase of 157 over the same period in 2009.