Iron ore shipments on the Great Lakes were 4 percent lower in April than they were a year ago, the Lake Carriers' Association reports. About 5.7 million net tons of iron ore were shipped in April.
Lower demand and low water levels -- which means ships can't carry as much cargo -- combined to decrease April shipments. For the year through April, the Great Lakes iron ore trade stands at 10.4 million net tons, a decrease of 11.3 percent compared to the same point in 2006, but on pace with the five-year average for the January-April time frame.
