Iron ore shipments on the Great Lakes totaled 5.1 million tons in August, a 2-percent increase compared to 2025, recently reported the Lakes Carriers’ Association. Shipments were 5.1 percent below the month’s 5-year average.
Year-to-date, the iron ore trade rose 3 percent to 27.5 million tons.
Through August, iron shipments are below their 5-year average by 5.2 percent.
Since 1880, Lake Carriers’ has represented the U.S.-flag Great Lakes fleet, which today can move more than 90 million tons of cargoes annually that are the foundation of American industry, infrastructure, and power: iron ore, stone, coal, cement, and other dry bulk materials such as grain, salt, and sand.