Press Release  

IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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

The year-to-date cargo total was 17,581,194 metric tons compared with 16,143,807 tons in 1997. Total cargo exceeded the five-year average of 16,988,206 metric tons by four percent.

Both international and domestic commerce exceeded last year’s levels, with international trade experiencing strong Canadian iron ore and coal exports and increased overseas grain shipments. Total international trade of 4.3 million metric tons placed it 24 percent above the 3.5 million tons reached during the same period in 1997.

Domestic trade of 13.2 million metric tons, dominated as usual by iron ore and coal shipments, represented a five percent increase from the 12.6 million tons reached last year.

One of the nation’s leading bulk ports, Duluth-Superior historically has a pronounced imbalance between outbound and inbound cargo. Through July, all export and domestic shipments totaled 15,816,956 tons—nearly 90 percent of the port’s commerce—while all imports and domestic receipts totaled 1,764,238 tons, or a shade above 10 percent.

The primary outbound cargoes are iron ore (45 percent), western coal (42 percent) and bulk grain (seven percent), while the leading inbound cargo is categorized as dry bulk (93 percent). The latter is mainly limestone, cement and eastern coal.

Vessel calls exceeded last year’s figure by 60. There were 481 vessels visiting the Port through July compared with 421 in 1997. Making up that figure were 316 U.S.-flag, 110 Canadian-flag and 55 overseas vessels.

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CONTACT: Ray Skelton, Environmental & Government Affairs Director

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