Great Lakes shipping has rebounded this summer after a sluggish start to the season.
Icy waters slowed shipping in the spring – but total cargo shipments on the St. Lawrence Seaway are now up 3 percent compared to last year, according to Betty Sutton. She is the Administrator of the Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation.
Sutton says grain is a major reason why things have recovered.
“Last year Canada had its largest grain harvest ever and much of it moved on the seaway this year," Sutton says. "And the U.S. grain crops are also very good this year.”
Sutton says steel is also fueling improvements. The Port of Detroit took in over 17,000 tons of steel in August alone – that’s raw material used primarily in car manufacturing.
But other commodities are also filling cargo holds.
“Aluminum as a commodity is also on a roll," Sutton says. "Really important in Michigan as it’s being used by car manufacturers more and more. Example the Ford F-150 pick-up trucks.”
Iron ore and coal shipments are down compared to 2013.