IMMEDIATE RELEASE        December 31, 2000

DULUTH, Minn., U.S.A.-While Port of Duluth-Superior ship traffic through November nearly mirrored last year's level (1,000 ships compared with 999), low Great Lakes water levels held total tonnage at 33.6 million metric tons, a six percent decrease from the 35.5 million tons reached last year.

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U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' reports showed Lake Superior's water level about 14 inches below average through November, while lakes Huron and Michigan were down about 22 inches. For the largest lake vessels, each inch of vessel draft means up to 270 tons of cargo.

The Port's three principal cargoes each experienced decreases from last year's levels, with iron ore shipments down four percent, coal shipments down two percent and grain down 16 percent. The year's tonnage trailed the five-year average of 35 million tons by four percent.

International trade totaled 10.5 million tons, a decrease of five percent from the previous year's 11 million tons. Decreased iron ore and coal shipments were reflected in domestic trade's total of 23.1 million tons, a six percent decrease from the 24.5 million tons reached in 1999.

The Port's top cargoes of iron ore and coal were nearly dead-even, each representing nearly 40 percent of total commerce with iron ore shipments of just over 13.2 million tons and coal shipments nearly reaching the same figure.

Bulk grain, historically the Port's third-leading commodity, stood at 12 percent of total tonnage through November with four million metric tons. Combined, the Port's three principal cargoes equaled 91 percent of total commerce.

Making up the total of 1,000 vessels visiting the Port through November were 558 U.S.-flag, 270 Canadian-flag and 172 overseas vessels.

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CONTACT: Ray Skelton, Environmental & Government Affairs Director

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

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