U.S.-flag Great Lakes freighters (lakers) moved 81.8 million tons of cargo in 2021, an increase of 16.8% compared to 2020, according to the Lake Carriers' Association (LCA).
The 2021 float was less than 1% below the fleet’s five-year average.
Iron ore cargos totaled 41.7 million tons, an increase of 12.4% compared to a year earlier. Shipments of all other commodities increased as well in 2021. Coal cargos were up 42.7% to 10.4 million tons. Limestone and cement shipments increased by 16.7% and nearly 5%, respectively. Salt cargos were up by 34.2%. Shipments of sand were up by 21.6%, while grain cargos increased by 16.3%.
Since 1880, LCA has represented the U.S.-flag Great Lakes fleet, which today can move more than 90 million tons of cargos annually that are the foundation of U.S. industry, infrastructure, and power: iron ore, stone, coal, cement, and other dry bulk materials such as grain, salt, and sand.
