Economic Impact Study of the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway System. Transportation Cost Savings

摘要

In addition to the jobs, personal income, business revenue and taxes created by cargo activity on the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway System, the use of the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway System provides transportation costs savings for shippers/consignees using the 16 U.S. Great Lakes ports. It is estimated that during the shipping season for 2000, this transportation system provided $1.2 billion of cost savings to the steel mills, utilities, and other key industries located in proximity to the 16 U.S. Great Lakes ports. Of the 192 million tons moving via the 16 U.S. ports, ore, coal, grain, cement, stone and aggregates, salt and iron and steel products account for 88 percent of the tonnage. The ore, coal, cement, and stone and aggregates are consumed by users located in proximity to the individual U.S. Great Lakes ports, and these users have most likely located near the Lakes ports in order to minimize transportation costs of the raw materials. Grain terminals have located on the Great Lakes in order to provide a cost-effective outlet for grain grown in the Great Lakes hinterland.