Cargo Volumes Down Despite Increased Vessel Activity on the St. Lawrence Seaway
According to the St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation’s (SLSMC) June traffic report, year-to-date cargo totaled 12.015 million metric tons, down 5.3% from 12.689 million metric tons during the same period in 2025. Grain shipments totaled 3.798 million metric tons, a 10.6% decline from a year earlier, while coal traffic fell 13.7% to 392,000 metric tons. General cargo decreased 9.5% to 751,000 metric tons, and iron ore shipments slipped 3.9% to 1.769 million metric tons.
Dry bulk cargo was nearly unchanged, declining 0.6% to 3.84 million metric tons, while liquid bulk posted one of the few gains, increasing 0.8% to 1.459 million metric tons.
Despite lower cargo volumes, vessel activity increased. Total vessel transits reached 1,355 through June, up 1.6% from 1,334 during the same period in 2025.
Feature photo: Everlast and Norman McLeod transiting the Welland Canal
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