Overall combined traffic on the Seaway declined by five per cent from 2021, with 36.2 million tonnes of cargo shipped over the eight month shipping season.
General cargo shipments saw the steepest decline at 21.5 per cent. Coal shipments decreased by 351,000 tonnes or 16.6 per cent. Iron Ore traffic fell by over 657,000 tonnes or 9.6 per cent.
Grain shipments declined by 733,000 tonnes or 6.9 per cent. US grain exports increased through the Seaway in 2022.
Soft Canadian grain exports at the start of the season due to the 2021 drought in the Canadian Prairies attributed to the overall decline in grain shipments. Officials with the St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation say that the improved 2022 grain harvest should result in an improved start to the 2023 shipping season.
There were some gains made in bulk cargo sectors that offset the losses in commodity shipments.
Liquid Bulk shipments including petroleum were up 319,000 tonnes (9.9 per cent).
Dry Bulk shipments like salt, coke, and potash increased by 323,000 tonnes (2.8 per cent.) Potash shipments more than doubled in 2022 as Canadian and US producers increased fertilizer supply due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Terence Bowles, president and CEO of the SLSMC said the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Seaway is agile and able to respond to changes in shipping year-to-year.
“Seaway traffic results show positive trends amongst certain commodities, which demonstrates our system’s ability to quickly adapt to changes in the market,” he explained. “In addition, we are working closely with partners to develop lands along the Seaway, which will benefit both the economy and local communities.”
While overall traffic decreased in tonnage, more vessels used the Seaway. Vessel transits, including increased cruise ship traffic, increased by 92, or 2.4 per cent. In 2022, 4,010 vessels sailed through the Seaway.
The Montreal-Iroquois section of the Seaway closed on January 1, a day later than scheduled due to weather. The Welland Canal section closed January 9.
The SLSMC, and its American counterpart, the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation, will be working on maintenance of the lock system in preparation of the 2023 shipping season. No date has been announced for when that season will begin.
This article was originally written for the Morrisburg Leader.
