US-Flag Vessels Haul 101.3 Million NT in 2002

摘要

US-flag Great Lakes vessels moved 101.3 million net tons of cargo in 2002, down slightly from 2001. The 48.2 million net tons of iron ore shipped by US Lakers in 2002 was up slightly (1.2 million tons) over 2001, but was 24 percent less than the 1997 US-flag iron ore tonnage moved on the great lakes. The Lake Carriers' Association (LCA), Cleveland, pointed out that it was in 1997 that foreign steelmakers, facing contracting markets in Asia, began dumping their excess production in the US. Since then, more than 30 US steelmakers and processors have filed for bankruptcy. About half of those companies are out of business, the LCA said. The 2002 US coal trade at 21.7 million net tons was unchanged compared with 2001. Reduced demand for eastern coal offset an increase in low-sulfur western coal loadings.