Press Release  

IMMEDIATE RELEASE

DULUTH, Minn., U.S.A.—The Port of Duluth-Superior handled three percent more waterborne commerce through August than during the same period in 1997, the Seaway Port Authority of Duluth reported today.

Spurred by Canadian coal exports and overseas grain shipments, the port’s year-to-date cargo total of 21.6 million metric tons continued to stay slightly ahead of last year’s total of 20.9 million tons. Total cargo stayed nearly even with the five-year average of 21.5 million tons.

International commerce of 5.3 million metric tons exceeded last year’s level of 4.5 million tons by 18 percent. Increased Canadian market demand for the clean-burning low-sulfur western coal supplied by Superior’s Midwest Energy Resources coal facility was primarily responsible for the increase.

The secondary factor was a continuing steady flow of grain moving through Duluth-Superior despite the many problems facing U.S. agriculture. Worldwide oversupply, weather problems and crop quality issues are being offset in this port by several contributing conditions. Included among the main reasons are competitive Great Lakes ocean freight rates and less grain moving to the Pacific Northwest ports due to the Asian economic crisis.

Domestic trade of 16.3 million tons represented a decrease of less than one percent from the 16.5 million tons reached last year. Domestic dry bulk shipments were down slightly, but the decrease was offset by increased domestic iron ore shipments.

The Port’s three principal cargoes, contributing 90 percent of total waterborne commerce, are iron ore (45 percent with 9.6 million tons), coal (38 percent with 8.2 million tons) and grain (seven percent with 1.5 million tons). These cargoes are primarily outbound. The leading inbound cargo, categorized as dry bulk, contributed nine percent of total commerce. Dry bulk is composed mainly of limestone, cement and eastern coal.

Vessel calls exceeded last year’s figure by 54. There were 590 vessels visiting the Port through August compared with 536 in 1997. Making up that figure were 387 U.S.-flag, 129 Canadian-flag and 74 overseas vessels. - 30 -

CONTACT: Ray Skelton, Environmental & Government Affairs Director

Lisa Marciniak, Port Promotion Manager, 218-727-8525