Despite some areas of strength, overall 2019 St. Lawrence Seaway cargo volumes are down 6% for the period of March 22 to Nov. 30 compared to the same period in 2018.

Weaker overall U.S. grain exports, declines in steel imports due to U.S. tariffs, and difficult navigational conditions due to very high water flows within the St. Lawrence River have restrained cargo volumes, according to a press release from Chamber of Marine Commerce.

U.S. Great Lakes ports report increases in road salt shipments, petroleum products and general cargo in November.

Bruce Burrows, President of the Chamber of Marine Commerce, said: “Despite the overall Seaway decrease, it’s great to see so many U.S. ports reaching their yearly goals with a few weeks remaining in the shipping season and exceeding their 2018 cargo totals. We’re optimistic this momentum will continue. Cities and manufacturing companies rely on this important Great Lakes-Seaway trade corridor to stockpile road salt for deicing roads, deliver crucial raw materials for plant production, and export grain and other products right up to the end of December.”