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.
Great Lakes Iron Ore Shipments Rise in October, While Limestone Trade Declines
Iron ore shipments on the Great Lakes increased in October, while limestone shipments continued to trail last year’s totals and historical averages, according to the Lake Carriers’ Association (LCA). U.S.... Read More
Duluth Cargo Connect Wins 2026 Port/Terminal Operator of the Year
Duluth Cargo Connect has been named 2026 Port/Terminal Operator of the Year at the Heavy Lift Awards in London, recognizing investments in infrastructure, equipment and services for heavy-lift and project... Read More
St. Lawrence Seaway Cargo Traffic Rises 3.5% Through September
Cargo traffic on the St. Lawrence Seaway increased 3.5% year over year through September 2026, reaching 24.941 million metric tons, according to year-to-date figures from the St. Lawrence Seaway Management... Read More
Port of Cleveland, Milo Harbour Move Cross-Lake Truck Ferry Project Forward
The Port of Cleveland and Milo Harbour Inc. signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) in July to initiate a new cross-lake truck ferry service between northeast Ohio and southern Ontario. ... Read More
Canada’s Retaliatory Tariffs on U.S. Goods Take Effect
Canada’s retaliatory tariffs of 15% to 50% on $27.6 billion worth of U.S. goods went into effect on Sept. 8. These new tariffs follow the collapse of bilateral trade negotiations with... Read More
Great Lakes Stakeholders Discuss Reliability and Cargo Expansion at Annual AGLPA Conference
The annual American Great Lakes Ports Association (AGLPA) Conference took place July 30-31 at the Loews Chicago Hotel. More than 250 industry stakeholders from the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Seaway region... Read More
Iron Ore and Limestone Trade Up in July
The Lake Carriers’ Association (LCA) reports that shipments of iron ore on the Great Lakes totaled 5.1 million tons in July, an increase of less than 1% compared to 2025. Iron... Read More
Cargo Volumes Down Despite Increased Vessel Activity on the St. Lawrence Seaway
Cargo volumes on the St. Lawrence Seaway remained below last year’s pace through June, although vessel traffic continued to increase, reflecting a mixed start to the 2026 navigation season. According... Read More
Great Lakes Limestone and Iron Ore Trade Up in June
U.S. shipments of limestone on the Great Lakes totaled 3 million tons in June, an increase of 4.5% compared to June 2025. According to the Lake Carriers’ Association (LCA), this... Read More
St. Lawrence Seaway Cargo Traffic Down 3.3% Through May
The St. Lawrence Seaway reported a decline in overall cargo traffic through May 2026, with total cargo volumes down 3.3% compared with the same period in 2025. According to monthly... Read More
The Enduring Value of the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Seaway
The Great Lakes–St. Lawrence Seaway remains one of North America’s most strategically important trade corridors, quietly underpinning economic activity across the industrial Midwest while connecting the heartland of the United States to global... Read More