Shipments of iron ore from US ports on the Great Lakes fell in September, MarineLink Maritime News reported on 5 October 2026.
The total moved in September was 4.6 million tonnes, a reduction of 1.2 percent compared with the same month in 2025. That monthly result sat below the five‑year average for September by 11.4 percent.
Monthly performance
September’s 4.6 million tonnes provides the specific monthly measure cited in the report and shows a modest year‑on‑year contraction. The 1.2 percent drop indicates a small decline in tonnage handled across US Great Lakes iron ore ports for the month.
Five‑year context
Measured against a short historical window, shipments in September were 11.4 percent under the month’s five‑year average, underlining that the month performed noticeably weaker than the recent norm. The figure does not, on its own, identify causes but does place September below typical recent seasonal levels.
Looking beyond the single month, the report shows cumulative activity through the year remains stronger than 2025. Year‑to‑date iron ore trade on the Great Lakes stood at 32.2 million tonnes, an increase of 2.4 percent compared with the same period in 2025.
The divergence between a weaker September and a year‑to‑date increase suggests that earlier months had offset the monthly decline, producing an overall gain for the year so far. The available figures give a snapshot of volumes without attributing the movement to any particular market or operational factor.
Readers should note the published numbers are the specific totals cited by MarineLink Maritime News on 5 October 2026 and reflect shipments from US ports on the Great Lakes. No additional operational or commercial details were supplied in the report.
Taken together, the statistics indicate a slight year‑on‑year dip in September tonnage set against a modest rise in cumulative annual trade through the Great Lakes system to date. The contrast between the monthly shortfall against a five‑year average and the year‑to‑date increase frames a mixed picture of 2026 iron ore movements on the lakes.
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