According to the Lake Carriers’ Association, shipments of iron ore on the Great Lakes were below one million tons in March, a decrease of 39.1 percent compared to 2024. Loadings were also below the month’s 5-year average by 19.4 percent.

Year-to-date, the iron ore trade stands at nearly three million tons, a decrease of 31.9 percent compared to a year ago. Iron ore shipments are 15.2 percent below their 5-year average for the first three months of the year.