St Lawrence Seaway off 5.3pc in 2013, but looks to a brighter 2014
CANADA's St Lawrence Seaway Management Corp. (SLSMC) said the waterway saw a surge in ships carrying grain in December, but volumes dipped 5.3 per cent last year compared to 2012.
For the year, which began on March 22, 2013, seaway tonnage was 37 million tonnes, 5.3 per cent lower than the volumes experienced in 2012.
Despite the late season surge in grain, overall grain tonnage was down 3.2 per cent in 2013 as much of the record crop was quite late.
But high volumes of grain currently going into storage and the pent up demand for grain movements bodes well for the start of the seaway's 2014 navigation season, says American Shipper.
"A relatively late harvest in the Prairies producing record breaking volumes led to a delay in the movement of grain. Once the grain began to move, the seaway played a key role in enabling farmers to move their crops to market, contributing to a surge in seaway cargo during the month of December."Despite the cold snap enveloping much of North America, a total of 4.4 million tonnes of cargo moved through the seaway in December, exceeding last year's December volume by 130,000 tonnes, and eclipsing the five-year December average by some 20 per cent," SLSMC said.
Said SLSMC president and CEO Terence Bowles: "The record-breaking crop proved to be both a bounty for farmers and a logistical challenge for the grain handling industry. Once again, marine carriers moving grain through the seaway proved to be an invaluable part of the transportation network, enabling farmers to reach markets that they may otherwise not have been able to profit from.
"SLSMC said there was a 12 per cent increase in liquid bulk, as double-hulled tankers moved volumes of petroleum distillates between distribution locations to smooth out inventory levels and ensure adequate supplies in key markets. Iron ore was down four per cent, reflecting the challenging climate within the North American steel industry.
Reduced imports of steel products contributed to a 20 per cent decline in breakbulk cargo. Movements of dry bulk were down 12 per cent as reduced construction activity in infrastructure projects lowered the demand for cargoes such as cement and aggregates.An influx of new vessels, purpose-built for seaway use, continued during the 2013 navigation season, SLSMC said, pointing out that the new ships are more fuel efficient and have lower emissions.
CANADA's St Lawrence Seaway Management Corp. (SLSMC) said the waterway saw a surge in ships carrying grain in December, but volumes dipped 5.3 per cent last year compared to 2012.
For the year, which began on March 22, 2013, seaway tonnage was 37 million tonnes, 5.3 per cent lower than the volumes experienced in 2012.
Despite the late season surge in grain, overall grain tonnage was down 3.2 per cent in 2013 as much of the record crop was quite late.
But high volumes of grain currently going into storage and the pent up demand for grain movements bodes well for the start of the seaway's 2014 navigation season, says American Shipper.
"A relatively late harvest in the Prairies producing record breaking volumes led to a delay in the movement of grain. Once the grain began to move, the seaway played a key role in enabling farmers to move their crops to market, contributing to a surge in seaway cargo during the month of December."Despite the cold snap enveloping much of North America, a total of 4.4 million tonnes of cargo moved through the seaway in December, exceeding last year's December volume by 130,000 tonnes, and eclipsing the five-year December average by some 20 per cent," SLSMC said.
Said SLSMC president and CEO Terence Bowles: "The record-breaking crop proved to be both a bounty for farmers and a logistical challenge for the grain handling industry. Once again, marine carriers moving grain through the seaway proved to be an invaluable part of the transportation network, enabling farmers to reach markets that they may otherwise not have been able to profit from.
"SLSMC said there was a 12 per cent increase in liquid bulk, as double-hulled tankers moved volumes of petroleum distillates between distribution locations to smooth out inventory levels and ensure adequate supplies in key markets. Iron ore was down four per cent, reflecting the challenging climate within the North American steel industry.
Reduced imports of steel products contributed to a 20 per cent decline in breakbulk cargo. Movements of dry bulk were down 12 per cent as reduced construction activity in infrastructure projects lowered the demand for cargoes such as cement and aggregates.An influx of new vessels, purpose-built for seaway use, continued during the 2013 navigation season, SLSMC said, pointing out that the new ships are more fuel efficient and have lower emissions.