Ports of Erie, Burns Harbor, and Duluth see wind energy cargo on eight ships from five countries

The Great Lakes Seaway Partnership today reported that American and Canadian ports in the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Seaway System saw 1,733 total transits from the opening of the St. Lawrence Seaway on March 22, 2021 through July 31, 2021, a 6.19 percent increase compared to transits through July last year. Commodities seeing an increase include iron ore, containers, steel, and wind energy cargo.

Through July, all cargo shipped through the St. Lawrence Seaway reached 16,669,000 metric tons, up 4.64 percent compared to shipments during the same time in 2020.

Craig H. Middlebrook, Deputy Administrator of the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation said, “July was a good month for project cargo moving through the Seaway System, with a notable resurgence in shipments of windmill components. The wind energy supply chain continues to be strong, with vessels bringing these cargoes from five different countries last month. Exports of iron ore remain strong due to sustained worldwide demand, and steel tonnage continues to be robust, driven by activity in the manufacturing and construction sectors.”

2021 Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Seaway Key Performance Indicators**
2020 2021 Change (+/-)
Total Transits* 1,632 1,733 + 6.19%
Total Cargo* 15,930,000 mt 16,669,000 mt + 4.64%
*Combined U.S. and Canadian traffic
**All data is compared year-over-year (2020: Shipments from April 1 to July 31, 2020) (2021: Shipments from March 22 to July 31, 2021)