US-flag Great Lakes freighters moved 71.3 million tons of cargo in 2025, marking an 8.9% decline from the previous year and falling 8.1% below the fleet’s five-year average. Shipments decreased across nearly all commodities, with the exception of salt, which rose 4.1%. Iron ore volumes dropped 10.8% to 39.1 million tons, while coal shipments fell 12% to 6.5 million tons. Limestone, cement, sand, and grain also recorded year-over-year declines. The figures point to broad-based softness in Great Lakes cargo demand during the year.
