Driven primarily by a very strong first half for iron ore shipping, total tonnage through the Port of Duluth-Superior tracked 11% ahead of last year’s pace through July 2023, topping 14mt (million short tons). Iron ore comprised more than 9.6mt of that total. A banner June float—nearly 2.6mt of iron ore — provided the biggest boost. It was the most in a single month since May 1993.
Several other bulk cargoes also posted summer gains through North America’s furthest-inland seaport, including salt (up 13.2% YOY), limestone (up 5.9% YOY) and cement (more than double the 2022 pace).
“It’s definitely been a good first half for many of the bulk cargoes that move through our port, led of course by our king cargo, iron ore,” said Deb DeLuca, executive director of the Duluth Seaway Port Authority. “We’re seeing the effects of steady manufacturing and construction activity throughout the Great Lakes region, which was up more than 26% over last year’s pace through July.”