CORNWALL, ON / WASHINGTON D.C. (November 13, 2024) - The St. Lawrence Seaway reported its October performance figures, with cargo shipments reaching 28 million metric tons since the start of the navigation season. Although this represents a slight decrease compared to the same period last year, October saw a positive uptick over September’s results, underscoring the Seaway’s vital role in supporting the North American supply chain.

“In October, the Seaway System saw a noticeable increase in cargo movements,” said Adam Tindall-Schlicht, Administrator, Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation. “These next few months are typically the busiest of the Seaway’s navigation season. The harvest is in, and U.S. export grain is moving through Great Lakes ports and the Seaway,” said Tindall-Schlicht. “As global demand increases, we anticipate this upward trend in outbound grain shipments to continue through the end of the year.”

“Trends across major cargo segments indicate continued demand in key sectors. Grain rose by 11% year-over-year, driven by robust agricultural exports, while potash increased by 12%. We anticipate a strong finish to the season,” said Jim Athanasiou, President and CEO of The St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation.

“As we approach the close of the navigation season on January 5 in the Montreal-Lake Ontario section and January 10 in the Welland Canal, the St. Lawrence Seaway remains committed to meeting market needs and supporting growth in North American industries,” added Mr. Athanasiou.

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.

-30-

Media Contacts:

Nicole Giroux-Laplante (SLSMC)                                

Manager, Media Relations and Communications

613-932-5170, ext. 3296                                             

ngirouxlaplante@seaway.ca    

Jennifer Wilk (GLS)

Director, Congressional and Public Relations

(202) 590-8115

jennifer.wilk@dot.gov