Increase in construction-goods cargo sees a strong year for shipping on the St. Lawrence Seaway
More than 38 million tonnes of goods transited through the St. Lawrence Seaway in 2021—an increase of roughly one percent over 2020.
The non-profit authority that oversees the seaway reports that a weaker-than-usual year for grain crop was more than offset by increased demand to ship construction materials and manufactured goods.
The St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation (SLSMC) says that iron ore, steel slabs and other steel products contributed to over 10.5 million tonnes of the total goods shipped in 2021. This was driven by demand from both the automotive and construction industries.
Meanwhile, petroleum products and other essential chemical products were up some 5 percent, while varied cargoes as stone, cement, potash and aluminium were also up.
Grain, at 10.6 million tonnes, was below 2020’s exceptional results due to a smaller crop and drought conditions in both western Canada and the U.S. mid-west. Canadian grain, however, was still tracking at a five-year average.
“In spite of the many challenges experienced by the transportation industry this past year, the Seaway was able to maintain its operations and its position as a reliable commercial transportation corridor, ensuring consistent and predictable service for its customers and supporting the Canadian and U.S. economies during this difficult period,” said Terence Bowles, President and CEO of the SLSMC.
Over the past navigation season and through the upcoming winter months, SLSMC plans to spend close to $70 million on maintenance and repair work. Combined, it and the and U.S. Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation have invested $925 million in modernizing the seaway’s infrastructure assets.
Cargo shipments on the Great Lakes-Seaway system generate $45 billion of economic activity and 238,000 jobs in Canada and the U.S.