NEWS RELEASE: Total cargo shipments through the St. Lawrence Seaway are up 20 per cent this year as the marine highway supports business growth from key sectors of the North American economy.
According to The St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation, total cargo tonnage from March 20 to June 30 reached 12 million metric tons – two million metric tons more compared to the same period in 2016.
“Seaway cargo shipments are a reflection of North American and global economic conditions in industries such as auto manufacturing, construction, mining and agriculture. Cargo volumes have improved in almost every category from iron ore and grain to road salt and construction materials compared to last spring,” said Terence Bowles, President and CEO, The St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation. “Great Lakes-Seaway shipping is supporting domestic economic growth and international trade from provinces across Canada by providing reliable, efficient and sustainable transportation.”
Canadian grain totaled 2.4 million metric tons, up 14 per cent, with vessels shipping a large carry over of Prairie and Ontario grain products from the fall harvest to overseas markets.
G3 Canada is a growing grain company that has a significant investment in grain handling facilities located at various points along the St. Lawrence Seaway. In June, G3 Canada Limited’s staff and customers, as well as other dignitaries gathered to celebrate the grand opening of G3’s $50 million new lake terminal at the Port of Hamilton. The terminal is the centrepiece of G3’s entrance into the southern Ontario grain handling market. G3 Hamilton features technology that maximizes facility load and unload speed.
“Fundamental to the business case for the new terminal is access to the St. Lawrence Seaway as the intent is to load both Great Lakes lakers and inbound salties to ship volume through this facility. The St. Lawrence Seaway is strategic to G3’s western Canadian infrastructure as well as our facilities at Hamilton, Quebec City and Trois-Rivières,” said Karl Gerrand, CEO, G3 Canada Limited. “The Seaway is critical to the expansion of our business of exporting Canadian grain to world markets. G3 Hamilton loaded its first vessel in the month of June and is gearing up for a strong fall program when farmers begin to harvest this year’s crops.”
Year-to-date iron ore shipments totaled 2.8 million metric tons, up 65 per cent over 2016 levels. Canadian domestic carriers are loading U.S. iron ore pellets at Minnesota ports/docks to ship via the Seaway to the Port of Quebec, where it is then transferred to larger ocean-going vessels for onward transport to Japan and China.
Dry bulk cargo (including materials like stone, cement, gypsum, road salt and potash) shipments from March 20 to June 30 totaled 3.4 million metric tons, up 17 per cent over the same period last year. General cargo shipments including specialized steel and aluminum ingots destined to be used in the automotive and construction industries also topped 1.1 million metric tons, up 29 per cent.
Trade through the Port of Thunder Bay to and from Western Canada has been strong through the month of June. Year-to-date, 3.15 million metric tons of cargo have moved across Thunder Bay docks, which is 16 per cent higher than the 10-year average. Outbound shipments of the port’s mainstay cargo, prairie grain, are well ahead of normal (2.5 million MT vs. 2.2 million MT).
Tim Heney, CEO of the Thunder Bay Port Authority, added: “Potash has also been one of the highlights of the 2017 shipping season so far in Thunder Bay. As of June 30, potash shipment volumes are double what they usually are, and almost three times as much as last year at this time (252,000 MT vs. 90,000 MT). There has been a large increase in direct-export shipments to Brazil and Europe via ocean-going vessels. Thunder Bay is the only potash load point on the Great Lakes – St. Lawrence Seaway System.”
The port’s Keefer Terminal also had a very successful month. The terminal handled a variety of dimensional cargoes including electrical transformers, windmill components, conveyor belt coils, modular buildings, and a large shipment of steel beams and rail. With the exception of the modular buildings which were outbound, these cargoes were offloaded to Keefer’s vast laydown area before being transferred to truck and rail for furtherance to Western Canada.
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About the Chamber of Marine Commerce
The Chamber of Marine Commerce is a bi-national association that represents more than 130 marine industry stakeholders including major Canadian and American shippers, ports, terminals and marine service providers, as well as domestic and international ship owners. The Chamber has merged with the Canadian Shipowners Association, combining resources to advocate for an efficient regulatory climate that promotes a strong and competitive marine industry for the benefit of all industry stakeholders throughout the bi-national Great Lakes and St. Lawrence region and along the eastern seaboard and northern coasts. Based in Ottawa, Canada, the merged entity will continue to be called the Chamber of Marine Commerce.
Media Contact
Scott Stein
Leonard & Finco Public Relations, Inc.
(920) 965-7750 x157
The Chamber of Marine Commerce (CMC) is a bi-national association that represents diverse marine industry stakeholders including major Canadian and American shippers, ports, terminals and marine service providers, as well as Canadian domestic and international ship owners. The Chamber advocates for safe, sustainable, harmonized and competitive policy and regulation that recognizes the marine transportation system's significant advantages in the Great Lakes, St. Lawrence, Coastal and Arctic regions.
Media Contact:
Jason Card
Chamber of Marine Commerce
jcard@cmc-ccm.com
(613) 447 5401