Shipping and Logistics

ArcelorMittal Warns St. Lawrence Strike Could Hit Dofasco Raw Material Supplies
Written by Michael Cowden
October 26, 2023
Canadian steelmaker ArcelorMittal Dofasco could be impacted by a strike on the St. Lawrence Seaway, a company spokeswoman said.
The Hamilton, Ontario-based sheet producer is one of the largest users of shipping lanes on the Great Lakes and on the St. Lawrence, she said in email to SMU on Thursday, Oct. 26.
ArcelorMittal Dofasco relies on locks in Montreal, Quebec, and in Welland, Ontario, for shipments of iron ore, coal, and coke as well as seaborne steel slabs.
“As the navigation season has a finite shipping period and is a critical aspect of our business, we are watching the situation closely and trust a swift resolution will be reached,” the spokeswoman said.
ArcelorMittal Dofasco makes hot-rolled, cold-rolled, galvanized, Galvalume, pre-paint steel, and tin plate. The company employs nearly 5,000 people. And it ships approximately 4.5 million tons of flat-rolled steel per year to customers in the automotive, energy, packaging, and construction sectors, according to its website.
Recall that members of Canadian union Unifor – which also represents automakers in Canada – went on strike against the St. Lawrence Seaway management company last weekend.
The St. Lawrence Seaway is a vital trade route for steelmaking raw materials from the Atlantic Ocean to the Great Lakes.
The SLSMC is a not-for-profit corporation responsible for marine traffic through 13 of the 15 locks between Montreal and Lake Erie.

Michael Cowden
Read more from Michael CowdenLatest in Shipping and Logistics

Trump signs executive order aimed at making US shipbuilding ‘great again’
President Trump on Wednesday signed an executive order meant to breathe new life into American shipbuilding and curb Chinese dominance in the sector.

Great Lakes iron ore trade fell again in March
Recall that shipments also saw a sharp decline in January.

Longshoremen ratify contract with maritime alliance
Nearly 99% of ILA members voted in favor of a new labor deal with the United States Maritime Alliance that covers workers at ports on the Atlantic and Gulf coasts.

Reibus: Flatbed rates up slightly but uncertainty ahead
With construction seasonally soft, the flatbed market remains softer than the other main trailer types.

US-flagged ore shipments on Great Lakes down in 2024
The Lake Carriers’ Association reported a 4.5% y/y decline in December’s ore shipments of 4.6 million short tons.