Lagging iron ore offsets export surge in Duluth

(Posted on 31/01/25)

Total waterborne tonnage through the Port of Duluth-Superior declined 6.8 percent compared to the 2023 season, finishing the 2024 navigation season at 29.6 million short tons.

Located at the westernmost tip of Lake Superior, the Port of Duluth-Superior is North America’s farthest-inland freshwater seaport. A remarkable nine-mile natural breakwater shelters the port’s 49 miles of harbour frontage. Twenty privately owned bulk cargo docks and a general cargo terminal populate the working waterfront.

Diminished iron ore shipments drove the decline last year, as taconite totals fell from a 28-season high in 2023 to 19.4 million tons in 2024. While still exceeding the five-season average for iron ore, this figure represents a 10.4 percent year-over-year decrease.

Despite overall tonnage falling four percent short of the five-season average, the 2024 campaign included several successes.

Maritime import/export tonnage finished the season nearly 15 percent ahead of last year’s pace, driven primarily by a 31 percent increase in export tonnage. Spring wheat led the boost in exports, more than tripling the 2023 tonnage total.

Buoyed by a fourth-quarter rally, waterborne grain tonnage approached 794,000 short tons, its best mark since 2021.

Breakbulk cargoes moving through Duluth’s Clure Public Marine Terminal climbed 70 percent year over year, destined for locations as distant as the Pacific Northwest and Western Canada.

Duluth Cargo Connect freight tonnage (including sea, road and rail) topped 500,000 tons, a year-over-year increase of approximately 21 percent and the highest total since 2020.

Spliethoff added regular trans-Atlantic liner service between Duluth and the Mediterranean, augmenting the Duluth-Antwerp service it launched in 2023, which was the port’s first regular trans-Atlantic liner service since the 1970s.

Limestone deliveries via ship topped 3.3 million short tons, the most since 2019 and wind energy cargoes posted their highest volume since 2020.

Low-sulfur coal tonnage is still above 5.5 million short tons, posted a modest year-over-year increase.

58 oceangoing ships called at Duluth-Superior, an increase of eight over the previous season.

Latest News

New customs declaration process launched in Belgium

Inbound Release Platform (IRP) has been operating since 1 April 2025. This innovative solution, which... Read more

Kale to develop Oman’s national port communication system

Kale Logistics Solutions (Kale), along with its local partner Novel Muscat, has been awarded the contract... Read more

Estonian-German ports strengthen bilateral relations

Participants at the first German-Estonian Port Days, have demonstrated the impressive way in which bilateral... Read more

Teesport Offshore Gateway - a multi-million pound investment in the River Tees

One of the UK’s major port groups, PD Ports has announced its ambition to develop one of the UK... Read more

Port of Amsterdam achieves CO? reduction target

Port of Amsterdam has achieved its CO? reduction target. The Port of Amsterdam aimed to reduce its corporate... Read more

NSBT celebrates launch of new third berth in Freetown

Nectar Sierra Leone Bulk Terminal (NSBT) is celebrating the operational launch of a new third berth... Read more

Greenhouse gas emissions in port of Rotterdam down by 8%

Greenhouse gas emissions at companies in the port decreased by 1.7 Mton (8%) in 2024 compared to 2023... Read more

Raw materials delivered to British Steel through Immingham

Following the UK government’s passing of an emergency law to take control of British Steel, vital... Read more

Rotterdam takes important step in making shipping more sustainable

Trammo, OCI and James Fisher Fendercare have successfully conducted an ammonia bunkering pilot between... Read more

Bulgarian port’s first order for new Konecranes Gottwald MHCs

BMF Port Burgas AD (BMF), one of Bulgaria’s largest port operators, has ordered two Generation... Read more