Great Lakes iron ore trade up 8.6 percent in August
CLEVELAND – Iron ore shipments on the Great Lakes in August increased by 8.6 percent compared to 2022 to a total of 5.5 million tons. Shipments were also above the month’s 5-year average by 3.5 percent.
Year-to-date the iron ore trade totals 31.2 million tons, an increase of 28.9 percent compared to the same point last year.
Through August iron shipments are 6.5 percent above their 5-year average for eight months of the year.
Great Lakes Iron Ore Shipments: August 2018-2023 and 5-Year Average (net tons)
| Average | |||||||
| Port | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2018-2022 |
| Duluth, MN | 753,097 | 1,034,173 | 784,565 | 1,132,118 | 783,957 | 1,053,368 | 897,582 |
| Superior, WI | 1,676,254 | 1,543,211 | 657,807 | 1,248,826 | 1,606,770 | 1,484,506 | 1,346,574 |
| Two Harbors, MN | 1,961,521 | 1,787,273 | 994,491 | 1,273,085 | 1,504,048 | 1,303,265 | 1,504,084 |
| Silver Bay, MN | 785,494 | 580,885 | 360,469 | 801,687 | 150,111 | 558,876 | 535,729 |
| Marquette, MI* | 765,107 | 806,181 | 510,505 | 728,542 | 748,384 | 743,046 | 711,744 |
| Cleveland, OH** | 268,238 | 110,374 | 147,974 | 437,166 | 315,297 | 403,981 | 255,810 |
| Ashtabula, OH | 206,022 | 172,670 | 149,741 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 105,687 |
| Total | 6,415,733 | 6,034,767 | 3,605,552 | 5,621,424 | 5,108,567 | 5,547,042 | 5,357,209 |
Includes transshipments to Quebec City for shipment overseas (net tons)
*Marquette = Presque Isle in previous reports
**Transshipments within Cleveland Harbor
Year-to-Date 2018-2023
| Average | |||||||
| Port | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2018-2022 |
| Duluth, MN | 4,509,771 | 5,576,124 | 5,142,219 | 5,454,653 | 3,953,770 | 5,522,531 | 4,927,307 |
| Superior, WI | 7,886,178 | 7,036,717 | 4,210,602 | 7,394,740 | 6,974,867 | 7,666,911 | 6,700,621 |
| Two Harbors, MN | 10,098,301 | 10,541,206 | 7,709,362 | 9,476,573 | 8,092,503 | 9,127,346 | 9,183,589 |
| Silver Bay, MN | 3,960,752 | 3,177,212 | 2,311,974 | 3,373,700 | 1,013,474 | 1,617,527 | 2,767,422 |
| Marquette, MI* | 4,020,679 | 4,062,560 | 2,838,319 | 4,205,874 | 3,045,504 | 4,374,213 | 3,634,587 |
| Cleveland, OH** | 1,764,640 | 1,483,492 | 1,542,625 | 2,099,557 | 1,107,183 | 2,857,962 | 1,599,499 |
| Ashtabula, OH | 790,350 | 912,701 | 548,380 | 28,553 | 0 | 0 | 455,997 |
| Total | 33,030,671 | 32,790,012 | 24,303,481 | 32,033,650 | 24,187,301 | 31,166,490 | 29,269,023 |
Lake Carriers’ Association
Lakes limestone trade up 4.4 percent in August
CLEVELAND — Shipments of limestone on the Great Lakes totaled 4 million tons in August, an increase of 4.4 percent from a year ago. Limestone cargos were above the month’s 5-year average by 3.7 percent.
Loadings from U.S. quarries totaled 3.3 million tons, an increase of 5 percent compared to 2022. Shipments from Canadian quarries totaled 754,178 tons, an increase of 1.9 percent.
Year-to-date the Lakes limestone trade stands at 16.2 million tons, a decrease of 7.4 percent compared to a year ago. Loadings from Michigan and Ohio quarries total 13.1 million tons, a decrease of 5.1 percent. Shipments from Ontario quarries total 3.1 million tons, a decrease of 15.6 percent.
Great Lakes Limestone Trade: August 2018-2023 and Long-Term Average (net tons)
| 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | Average 2018-2022 |
|
| U.S. Ports | 3,248,082 | 3,485,279 | 2,857,671 | 3,019,800 | 3,109,744 | 3,266,057 | 3,144,115 |
| Canadian Ports | 731,350 | 817,827 | 729,336 | 636,327 | 740,122 | 754,178 | 730,992 |
| Total | 3,979,432 | 4,303,106 | 3,587,007 | 3,656,127 | 3,849,866 | 4,020,235 | 3,875,108 |
Year-to-Date 2018-2023 and Long-Term Average (net tons)
| 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | Average 2018-2022 |
|
| U.S. Ports | 14,097,966 | 15,877,579 | 12,690,142 | 13,508,781 | 13,810,106 | 13,103,208 | 13,996,915 |
| Canadian Ports | 3,258,173 | 3,479,313 | 3,312,528 | 3,906,419 | 3,726,624 | 3,143,615 | 3,536,611 |
| Total | 17,356,139 | 19,356,892 | 16,002,670 | 17,415,200 | 17,536,730 | 16,246,823 | 17,533,526 |
U.S. ports: Calcite, MI; Cedarville, MI; Drummond Island, MI; Marblehead, OH; Port Inland, MI; and Presque Isle, MI. Canadian ports: Bruce Mines, Manitoulin Island, Port Colborne (from August 2017 on), and Smelter Bay (all Ontario).
Lake Carriers’ Association
Rapids flow setting to stay same through September
Little change is expected at the head of the St. Marys River Rapids concerning water flow in September.
The International Lake Superior Board of Control says that gate setting at the head of the river will remain status quo for this month.
Additionally, the Board says that Lake Superior has likely reached its seasonal water peak level.
Following is a release from the Board with additional details:
The gate setting of the Compensating Works at the head of the St. Marys Rapids will be maintained at the current setting in September, which is equivalent to approximately five gates fully open. The St. Marys Rapids flow is approximately 773 m3/s. At this flow, some low-lying areas of Whitefish Island including recreational trails may still be flooded. Users are encouraged to use extreme caution.
The Board expects the total St. Marys River flow in September to be 2,820 m3/s (99,600 cfs) which is the same as the flow prescribed by Regulation Plan 2012. Actual hour-to-hour and day-to-day flows may vary depending on hydrologic conditions, as well as variations in flow from the hydropower plants.
The International Lake Superior Board of Control (Board) received approval from the International Joint Commission (IJC) to temporarily deviate from Regulation Plan 2012 through November 2023. This deviation strategy is like the strategy employed in 2019. As necessary over the next few months, the Board will continue to adjust the gate settings at the Compensating Works to offset the flow limitations caused by repairs and maintenance at the hydropower plants. Since May, the total amount of water released through the St. Marys River has been approximately equal to the flow prescribed by Plan 2012.
Water level changes over the month of August
Water supply conditions were drier than average in Lake Superior basin and wetter than average in the Lake Michigan-Huron basin in August.
- Lake Superior declined by 1 cm (0.4 in.) last month, while the seasonal long-term average pattern is for Lake Superior to rise 1 cm (0.4 in) in August.
- Lake Michigan-Huron declined by 2 cm (0.8 in) last month, while the seasonal long-term average pattern for Lake Michigan- Huron is to decline 4 cm (1.6 in) in August.
Water levels as of the beginning of September
- At the beginning of September, the lake-wide average water level of Lake Superior is 12 cm (4.7 in) above the seasonal long-term average (1918-2022) and 3 cm (1.2 in) above the level of a year ago.
- At the beginning of September, the lake-wide average water level of Lake Michigan-Huron is 13 cm (5.1 in) above the seasonal long-term average and 8 cm (3.1 in) below the level of a year ago.
Forecast outlook
It is likely that Lakes Superior and Michigan-Huron have reached their seasonal peak water levels.
- If weather and water supply conditions are near average, both Lake Superior and Lake Michigan-Huron are expected to decline in September (by ~3 cm or 1.2 in and 5 cm or 2 in, respectively).
- If conditions are wetter than average, Lake Superior may rise by as much as 6 cm (2.4 cm) and Lake Michigan-Huron may rise by as much as 2 cm (0.8 in).
- If dry conditions continue, the water level of Lake Superior is expected to decline by as much as 10 cm (3.9 in.), and Lake Michigan-Huron is expected to decline by as much as 11 cm (4.3 in.)
