It is reported that Cleveland iron ore shipments on the Great Lakes totaled 6,551,329 tonnes in August 2011, a decrease of 7% MoM from July, but an increase of 9% YoY. August loadings also were up 24.6% compared to the month's 5 year average.

Shipments from US ports totaled 5.8 million tonnes, an increase of 14.2% YoY. However, loadings at Canadian ports dipped more than 20%.

Through August 2011, the iron ore trade stands at 36.7 million tonnes, an increase of 9.1% YoY and 9.4% better than the 5 year average for the January to August 2011 timeframe.

Shipments from US ports are up by 10% YoY and 14.3% ahead of their 5 year average. Loadings at Canadian ports are 1.6% YoY ahead of last year's pace, but 14.6% below the 5 year average for the first eight months of the year.

Lake Carriers' Association represents 17 American companies that operate 55 US flag vessels on the Great Lakes and carry the raw materials that drive the nation's economy, iron ore and fluxstone for the steel industry, aggregate and cement for the construction industry, coal for power generation. Collectively, these vessels can transport more than 115 million tonnes of cargo per year when high water offsets lack of adequate dredging.

(Sourced from www.wdio.com)