Iron ore shipments on the Great Lakes totaled 6.3 million tons in August, a decrease of nine percent compared with July and 3.5 percent below the level of a year ago, according to the Lake Carriers' Association. Shipments were, however, nearly 22 percent ahead of August’s five-year average.

Shipments from U.S. ports totaled 5.4 million tons, a decrease of 8.2 percent compared with a year ago. Included in that total were 440,000 tons shipped to Québec City for final delivery overseas.

In the region, tonnage increased in Duluth and Silver Bay. Shipments through Duluth, at 605,000 net tons, were up from 470,000 a year ago although down from 734,000 during the five-year period. In Silver Bay, the total was 1 million net tons compared with 667,000 last August and the five-year average of 617,000. Tonnage through the Port of Superior declined, with 896,000 tons versus 1.1 million a year ago and 1.1 million for the five-year period. Traffic through Two Harbors also declined, with 1.8 million met tons compared with 2.0 million last August, but it exceeded the five-year figure of 1.4 million net tons.

Loadings at Canadian ports rose nearly 35 percent to 960,000 tons.

Through August, the iron ore trade stands at 38.5 million tons, an increase of 4.9 percent compared with a year ago, and 17.3 percent better than the 5-year average for the January-August timeframe.

Shipments from U.S. ports are up 3.1 percent compared to a year ago and 18.1 percent ahead of their 5-year average. Loadings at Canadian ports are up 20.1 percent compared to a year ago and 11.7 percent ahead of their 5-year average.

Lake Carriers’ Association represents 17 American companies that operate 57 U.S.-flag vessels on the Great Lakes.

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