Original news was published on 20 October, 2014

Steel and project cargo volume increases signal improving regional economy

At last, cargo volumes at the Great Lakes ports have rebounded to levels not seen since 2006.

Increases in tonnage were reported by all ports and that is expected to continue through December, according to the Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation. The amount of international freight coming through the Port of Cleveland is up close to 20 percent over last year. Even smaller ports undefined like those in Oswego, New York, and Erie, Pennsylvania, are up this year, Laura Blades, spokeswoman for the Great Lakes Port Association, said in a statement. Rising steel imports signal increased manufacturing in the U.S. And the export of heavy machinery indicates construction is on the rise in other parts of the world.  The Port of Cleveland has been handling an unusually large amount of project cargo, much of which has been shipped to Europe, Russia and Saudi Arabia, David Gutheil, vice president of maritime and logistics at the port, told The Plain Dealer.

“The cargo moving through the U.S. ports serves as a positive indicator that the regional economy is healthy due in part to the maritime industry,” the SLSDC  said in a statement. “The numbers speak for themselves.”

*NEWS SOURCE