Binational Press Release - June Cargo Volume Shows Resilience, Predictability and Sustainability of The St. Lawrence Seaway
June Cargo Volume Shows Resilience, Predictability and Sustainability of The St. Lawrence Seaway
CORNWALL, ON / WASHINGTON, D.C. (July 22, 2024) – As of the end of June, 12.2 million metric tonnes of cargo had moved on the St. Lawrence Seaway this year, demonstrating the resilience, predictability and sustainability of the binational system.
"The Seaway continues to demonstrate resilience," said Jim Athanasiou, new President and CEO of the St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation. "This consistent performance underscores the vital role the Seaway plays in North America's supply chain, supporting economic growth and environmental sustainability. Our commitment to our customers and to maintaining a reliable and efficient system, ensures that we can meet the needs of our customers and stakeholders now and in the future."
A few cargoes which showed significant increases compared to 2023 are:
- Dry and liquid bulks, with ores and concentrates up by 110,000 mt at approximately 142,000 mt, and fuel up by 185,000 mt totaling 1.1 million mt.
- Potash, an agricultural fertilizer, continues to perform well up by 281,000 mt, for a total of 506,000 mt
- General cargo shipments of iron and steel up by 303,000 mt to 815,000 mt
Grain, a Seaway staple, is steady and just ahead of 2023 for a total of 3.3 million metric tonnes.
“June proved to be another steady and productive month for U.S. ports on the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway System,” said Adam Tindall-Schlicht, Administrator, Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation. “Shippers around the world know that they can count on the Seaway to help get a range of goods to their final destination.”
As the season progresses, we expect cargo volumes to remain steady, demonstrating a resilient, predictable and sustainable binational system.
About the St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation (SLSMC):
The St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation, on behalf of the Government of Canada, manages the Canadian portion of the waterway system and its associated lands. The binational St. Lawrence Seaway system serves as a key corridor and vital supply chain link for North America, driving significant economic activity.
About the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation (GLS): The GLS is a wholly owned U.S. government corporation created by statute to construct, operate, and maintain that part of the St. Lawrence Seaway between the Port of Montreal and Lake Erie, within the territorial limits of the United States. Its mission is to serve the U.S. intermodal and international transportation system by improving the operation and maintenance of a safe, reliable, efficient, and environmentally responsible deep-draft waterway, in cooperation with its Canadian counterpart. The GLS also encourages the development of trade through the Great Lakes-Seaway System, which contributes to the comprehensive economic and environmental development of the entire Great Lakes region. Some 241,286 jobs and $36 billion in economic activity are supported by the movement of goods within the Great Lakes-Seaway System. For more information on the St. Lawrence Seaway, please consult the websites.
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Media Contacts:
Jean Aubry-Morin (SLSMC)
Vice-President, External Relations
(613) 932-5170, ext. 3249
Jennifer Wilk (GLS)
Director, Congressional and Public Relations
(202) 590-8115