Binational Tonnage Press Release - September 16, 2024 (Seaway Unveils New Figures That Demonstrate Its Resilience, Predictability, and Sustainability)
St. Lawrence Seaway Unveils New Figures That Demonstrate Its Resilience, Predictability and Sustainability
CORNWALL, ON / WASHINGTON D.C. (Sept 16,2024) – Today, the St. Lawrence Seaway is releasing new figures on its performance. As of the end of August, 19.5 million metric tons of cargo have been shipped on the St. Lawrence Seaway so far this navigation season. The consistency and reliability of the binational system makes it a key supply chain link moving the goods that drive the North American economy.
The Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Seaway System supports over 350,000 jobs across the U.S. and Canada, in a region that if it were its own country, would be the third largest economy in the world. From the food we consume, highlighted by increasing shipments of grain and potash fertilizer, to the materials and fuels that support transportation and build infrastructure across North America, the Seaway keeps costs down.
“The Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Seaway System continues to provide shippers a reliable route for a diverse range of commodities flowing in and out of the U.S. heartland,” said Adam Tindall- Schlicht, Administrator, Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation. “Cargo numbers continue to improve thanks to the dedicated workers at U.S. and Canadian ports and on the vessels who are keeping vital products like grain and steel moving efficiently through the Great Lakes maritime supply chain.”
Cargos which showed significant increases compared to the same period in 2023 are:
- Grain 5.2 million metric tons of Canadian and U.S. grain, up by 277,000 mt or 5.6%
- Potash 849 thousand metric tons of Potash, a product mined in the prairies and used in agricultural fertilizers, up by 145,000 mt or 21%
- Petroleum 1.8 million metric tons of petroleum products, up by 385, 000 mt or 27%
- Iron and steel 1.3 million metric tons of iron and steel, up by 347,000 mt or 35%
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.
Quick Fact
The Great Lakes- St. Lawrence region is the industrial and agricultural heartland of both the United States and Canada – with a combined GDP of more than $6 trillion U.S. dollars. This output would represent the third-largest economy in the world – behind the U.S. and China – if it were a country.
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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