IMMEDIATE RELEASE                October 13, 2000

DULUTH, Minn., U.S.A.-Low Great Lakes water levels adversely affected nearly all domestic shipping in the Port of Duluth-Superior through September, with waterborne commerce five percent below the same period a year ago, the Duluth Seaway Port Authority reported today.

(more detail)

The port's three principal cargoes each experienced decreases from last year's levels, with iron ore shipments down six percent, coal down three percent and grain dropping by nine percent. Year-to-date cargo totaled 25.2 million metric tons compared with 26.6 in 1999. The year's tonnage trailed the five-year average of 26.4 million tons by five percent.

U.S. Army Corps of Engineer's reports showed Lake Superior's water level nearly one foot below average through September, while Lakes Huron and Michigan were down about 18 inches. This had an especially negative effect on the largest U.S. lake vessels, with each inch of vessel draft meaning up to 270 tons of cargo. Higher levels in recent years had allowed lakers to carry significantly more cargo through the St. Mary's River between Lakes Superior and Huron.

St. Lawrence Seaway traffic was unaffected by the lower lake levels because of the Welland Canal's fixed draft of 26 feet, three inches.

One bright spot was a seven percent increase in overseas grain shipments, boosting all international trade to 7.6 million tons-one percent above last year's level of 7.5 million tons.

Decreased iron ore and coal shipments were reflected in domestic trade's total of 17.6 million tons, an eight percent decrease from the 19 million tons reached in 1999.

Coal shipments through September ran a close second to iron ore with 10.1 million metric tons or 40 percent of total waterborne commerce. Iron ore shipments of 10.2 million tons slightly surpassed coal and also represented 40 percent of total commerce.

Bulk grain, the port's third-leading commodity, stood at 10 percent of the total with 2.6 million tons. Combined, iron ore, coal and grain equaled 90 percent of total commerce.

Total vessel arrivals of 738 showed an increase of five from last year. There were 418 U.S.-flag, 198 Canadian-flag and 122 overseas vessels in port through September.

- 30 -

CONTACT: Ray Skelton, Environmental & Government Affairs Director

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

More Tonnage Reports