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.
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
68th Navigation Season Underway Amid Economic Challenges and Uncertainty
Cargo is moving on the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Seaway despite a slow start to the 2026 navigation season. Geopolitical tension, economic uncertainty and ice buildup on the upper Great Lakes... Read More
St. Lawrence Seaway Cargo Traffic Down Nearly 7% Through April
Cargo shipments on the St. Lawrence Seaway were down 6.79% through April compared with the same period in 2025, according to monthly traffic figures released by the St. Lawrence Seaway... Read More
Phase II Expansion Completed at DeLong Agricultural Export Facility in Milwaukee
Soybean farmer leaders presented a ceremonial $200,000 check March 31 in Milwaukee to support the Phase II expansion of the Agriculture Maritime Export Facility at Port Milwaukee. The facility, owned... Read More
Great Lakes Ports Mark Start of 2026 International Shipping Season
The Ocean7 Ranger arrived at Ports of Indiana-Burns Harbor on April 4, marking the official start of the 2026 international shipping season. The vessel completed a 52-day voyage to deliver... Read More