Cargo & Commodities

Each year, millions of tons of materials are shipped efficiently through the Great Lakes/St. Lawrence Seaway System. This section covers the various bulk cargo, from iron ore and petroleum to stone and cement, being transported along the system.

Port of Green Bay Welcomes First Ship of 2025 Shipping Season

The 2025 shipping season officially kicked off at the Port of Green Bay with the arrival of the Innovation with tug Samuel De Champlain on Wednesday, March 12. The Innovation,... Read More

How the New Administration Addresses the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Seaway System

Experts and executives are expecting that the Trump administration could bring significant changes to Great Lakes maritime traffic and ports. Small changes could have real economic impacts on many companies... Read More

U.S. Tariff Impact on Great Lakes Shipping

After threatening to double tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum imports, U.S. President Donald Trump is keeping them at the original 25 percent rate. This latest development came after President... Read More

Michigan Soybean Committee Starts New Alliance to Expand Great Lakes Shipping

In December, the Michigan Soybean Committee hosted the inaugural meeting of a new trade-focused group called the Great Lakes Alliance for Sustainable Shipping (GLASS).  The original idea for the new... Read More

CMC Calls on Canada to Focus on Economy in Response to Possible U.S. Tariffs

As the threat of a trade war with the United States looms, the Chamber of Marine Commerce (CMC) is calling on Canadian government leaders to focus on economic and trade... Read More

Great Lakes Limestone and Iron Ore Trade in 2024

Shipments of limestone on the Great Lakes totaled 28.3 million tons in 2024, a decrease of 3.9 percent compared to 2023. 2024’s loadings were below the trade’s five-year average by... Read More

Great Lakes Limestone Trade Down in November

Shipments of limestone on the Great Lakes totaled nearly 3 million tons in November, a decrease of 4.9 percent compared to a year ago.  Limestone cargos were just 8,340 tons... Read More

Iron Ore and Limestone Trade Down in October

Shipments of iron ore on the Great Lakes totaled 4.5 million tons in October, a decrease of 12.3 percent compared to a year ago.  Shipments were 10.1 percent below the... Read More

First Ocean Freight from Vietnam Arrives at Port of Montreal

On August 25, the Azoresborg docked at the Port of Montreal’s Viau Terminal from the Port of Haiphong, carrying 198 containers of high-value energy storage units. On arrival, the vessel was unloaded... Read More

St. Lawrence Seaway Remains a Key Supply Chain

The St. Lawrence Seaway is releasing new figures on its performance. As of the end of August, 19.5 million metric tons of cargo have been shipped on the St. Lawrence... Read More

CSL Leads in Sustainable Marine Solutions

The CSL Group is investing in decarbonization efforts and hiring more women as part of its goal to set positive trends for the entire Great Lakes shipping industry.  Based in... Read More