Total cargo volume was up 842,000 metric tons compared with the 24.099 million metric tons reported during the same period in 2025. Vessel transits also increased, rising 5.35% to 2,719 from 2,581 a year earlier. 

Dry bulk shipments led the growth in cargo volume, climbing 20.26% to 9.08 million metric tons from 7.55 million metric tons in 2025. The category recorded a year-over-year increase of 1.53 million metric tons, the largest gain among the cargo categories listed in the report. 

Other major cargo categories posted declines. Grain shipments fell 3% to 7.33 million metric tons, down 227,000 metric tons from 7.557 million metric tons in 2025. Iron ore volume decreased 3.43% to 3.579 million metric tons, a decline of 127,000 metric tons. 

Coal shipments declined 6.47% to 915,000 metric tons from 979,000 metric tons, while liquid bulk fell 4.08% to 2.655 million metric tons from 2.768 million metric tons. 

General cargo recorded the largest percentage decline among the listed categories, dropping 10.84% to 1.334 million metric tons from 1.496 million metric tons, a decrease of 162,000 metric tons. 

Despite declines across several cargo categories, the increase in dry bulk volume helped lift overall Seaway cargo traffic above the previous year’s level. The rise in vessel transits also points to increased vessel activity across the system during the first nine months of 2026.