Twin Ports Shipping Down Despite Gains in Grain and Cement

The Twin Ports shipping industry in Minnesota has seen a decline in tonnage through August this year. According to the Duluth Seaway Port Authority, total tonnage is about 3.9 million tons short of last year's pace.

The main reason for this decline is lower coal shipments, which accounted for around 75 percent of the decrease. The shift away from coal-fired electricity has led to a significant reduction in coal exports through the port. One notable effect of this change is the closure of Superior's Midwest Energy Resources coal terminal, which had operated for 50 years.

The remaining 25 percent of the tonnage deficit can be attributed to a decrease in iron ore shipments. Approximately half of this decline is due to reduced exports to Canada.

However, not all cargo categories have been affected equally. Grain, cement, and salt shipments have shown significant increases. Durum wheat exports have more than doubled from last year's pace, while imports of Turkish cement are up by 82 percent and Canadian salt by 19 percent.