Press Release  

IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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

Canadian coal exports and overseas grain shipments boosted the port’s year-to-date cargo total to 26 million metric tons compared with 25.2 million tons during the same period last year. Total cargo was slightly ahead of the five-year average of 25.9 million tons.

Both domestic and international commerce exceeded last year’s level. Domestic trade of 19.3 million metric tons represented a slight increase from the 19.2 million tons reached last year.

International commerce was up by 14 percent, reaching 6.8 million tons versus last year’s total of nearly six million tons. Canadian market demand for low-sulfur western coal was one factor. The other was continued robust grain shipments moving through the port.

In what is generally a sluggish world grain market, the ready availability of ocean ships for outbound grain after delivering imported steel to other Great Lakes ports has helped spur grain movements through the Port of Duluth-Superior.

"There’s a cruel irony here," said Davis Helberg, Duluth port director. "Iron ore is the historic bellwether of the port’s tonnage and we cannot overstate its importance to the regional economy.

"But the same ships that are bringing imported steel to the lower lakes are offering super-low outbound freight rates from this port. That, in turn, has given us at least a temporary advantage over the Mississippi River barge lines and the transcontinental railroads.

"If the federal government acts to restrict steel imports—as seems inevitable—it is unlikely that we’ll be as competitive in direct overseas grain shipments. At that point, we will again see fewer ocean ships and more Canadian lakers carrying grain to St. Lawrence River ports for overseas transshipment."

In recent years oceangoing ships have carried up to 60 percent of Duluth-Superior grain exports and Canadian lakers 40 percent. This year, with grain exports nearly 500,000 metric tons ahead of last year, oceangoing vessels are carrying 75 percent of grain exports.

The port’s big three cargoes, all primarily outbound, are iron ore, coal and grain. Combined they equaled 90 percent of total waterborne commerce through September. Iron ore contributed 43 percent with 11.3 million tons. Coal represented 38 percent with 9.8 million tons. Grain rounded out the top three with its 2.4 million tons equaling nine percent.

Vessel calls exceeded last year’s figure by 67, with 730 vessels visiting the port through September compared with last year’s total of 663. Evidencing the strong overseas grain shipments were the 111 overseas vessel arrivals, compared with 72 last year. There were 461-U.S. flag and 158 Canadian-flag arrivals contributing to this year’s total vessel visits.

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CONTACT: Ray Skelton, Environmental & Government Affairs Director

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