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Shipping traffic nearing pre-recession levels (Great Lakes)
Superior Telegram via boatnerd webstie ^ | 10/26-2010 | NA

Posted on 10/26/2010 3:36:20 AM PDT by prisoner6

Shipping traffic nearing pre-recession levels (Great Lakes)

10/26 - Superior, Wis. - A significant increase in demand for raw materials in the Great Lakes so far this year is being hailed as a strong indicator of a recovering economy.

Increases in grain shipments combined with more demand for iron ore and coal from last year is nudging Great Lakes shipping closer to levels before the recession began two years ago.

St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation Administrator Terry Johnson in Washington says overall demand for Great Lakes commodities is up 20 percent from last year. Despite the increase, overall shipping in the Great Lakes is still 10 percent behind its five-year average.

“Last year was a horrible year. It was a horrible economy,” says Johnson. “We often reflect the economy, how it’s going. The economy has improved, we’ve improved. It’s a much happier time than it was last year.”

Adele Yorde with the Duluth Seaway Port Authority says an increase in consumer confidence and drought conditions in Russia are boosting the shipping numbers. Russia is one of the world’s largest exporters of grain and has a ban on exports because of wildfires and drought. With a better than average growing season in the U.S., Yorde says grain shipments are up 89 percent from last year and 15 percent up compared to the five-year average.

“This year, all things lined up well for international shipping for the U.S,” Yorde says. “What happens next year? The climate conditions around the world might have a different picture come 2011.”

Because of the increase in demand for grain, 18 more ocean-going ships have loaded in the Twin Ports from last year. And iron ore shipments in all Great Lakes ports are up 62 percent.


TOPICS: Business/Economy; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: economy; greatlakes; shipping
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Good economic news.
1 posted on 10/26/2010 3:36:27 AM PDT by prisoner6
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To: prisoner6

Where the hell are the jobs, then?


2 posted on 10/26/2010 3:47:47 AM PDT by Lazamataz
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To: prisoner6

Good timing, a week before an election from a state that is poised to give the Democrats a good a**-kicking.


3 posted on 10/26/2010 4:02:19 AM PDT by Russ (Repeal the 17th amendment)
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To: prisoner6

grain. headed for China, India, Pakistans, and other faraway places...


4 posted on 10/26/2010 4:04:20 AM PDT by WVKayaker (Faith is putting all your eggs in God's basket, then counting your blessings before they hatch.)
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To: Lazamataz

They don’t pay you when you post?


5 posted on 10/26/2010 4:06:33 AM PDT by palmer (Cooperating with Obama = helping him extend the depression and implement socialism.)
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To: prisoner6

Yes, that is good news. It would be interesting to see how the LTL trucking industry is doing. Anyone out there with a trucking company?


6 posted on 10/26/2010 4:17:23 AM PDT by gunsequalfreedom (Conservative is not a label of convenience.)
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To: Lazamataz

Employment is typically a trailing indicator in a recovery.


7 posted on 10/26/2010 4:19:12 AM PDT by FreedomPoster (No Representation without Taxation!)
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To: prisoner6

“Shipping traffic nearing pre-recession levels (Great Lakes)”

The worthless Obama Dollar makes Great Lakes shipped US commodities (wheat, iron ore, etc) dirt cheap for China.


8 posted on 10/26/2010 4:31:34 AM PDT by FormerACLUmember (Character is defined by how we treat those who society says have no value.)
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To: prisoner6
Not really that good. Most of the grain that ships out of here is through a government program, Food for Peace or some such nonsense. Long ago the major commercial grain shipping operations changed when they used barges to move it to New Orleans and shipped it from there.

There is coal tonnage that leaves here but that is pretty consistent from year to year. It is primarily coal from Montana that is moved by rail to Duluth/Superior and then shipped to Canada for power plant usage.

Iron ore shipping probably makes up the bulk of what is shipped here for private (if GM is even private anymore), commercial, domestic use. I don't know how much that might have changed this year.

Shipping in the Twin Ports is a mere shadow of what it was in the 1960s and the economy here slowly sputters along.

We tend not to get hurt by large national recessions as much as other places because the economy here is always depressed. The ups and downs are just smaller than in other parts of the country.

The area's local governments have a decidedly antibusiness attitude which prevents commercial relocation here from elsewhere with a few exceptions such as Cirrus Aviation.

9 posted on 10/26/2010 4:33:13 AM PDT by johniegrad
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To: prisoner6
Not really that good. Most of the grain that ships out of here is through a government program, Food for Peace or some such nonsense. Long ago the major commercial grain shipping operations changed when they used barges to move it to New Orleans and shipped it from there.

There is coal tonnage that leaves here but that is pretty consistent from year to year. It is primarily coal from Montana that is moved by rail to Duluth/Superior and then shipped to Canada for power plant usage.

Iron ore shipping probably makes up the bulk of what is shipped here for private (if GM is even private anymore), commercial, domestic use. I don't know how much that might have changed this year.

Shipping in the Twin Ports is a mere shadow of what it was in the 1960s and the economy here slowly sputters along.

We tend not to get hurt by large national recessions as much as other places because the economy here is always depressed. The ups and downs are just smaller than in other parts of the country.

The area's local governments have a decidedly antibusiness attitude which prevents commercial relocation here from elsewhere with a few exceptions such as Cirrus Aviation.

10 posted on 10/26/2010 4:34:03 AM PDT by johniegrad
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To: palmer
They don’t pay you when you post?

If they did, I'd be an eleventy-skadillionaire.

11 posted on 10/26/2010 4:34:08 AM PDT by Lazamataz
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To: palmer; Lazamataz
They don't pay you when you post?

Yes they pay him, but only what his posts are worth.

12 posted on 10/26/2010 4:35:19 AM PDT by ASA Vet (Iran should have ceased to exist Nov 5, 1979, but we had no president then either.)
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To: johniegrad

Sorry about the double post. The bad weather is interfering with my satellite internet connection.


13 posted on 10/26/2010 4:35:33 AM PDT by johniegrad
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To: Lazamataz

Well, ships already have crews, so no new jobs there.

And the farm and ore is already mined and grown, so no new jobs there.

Most of the consumption is over here in Asia - the economy is booming, and Asia - especially China - is weaning itself off the US economy. All the Asian currencies are appreciating against the USD, so now’s the time to buy whatever the US can ship. And then repackage, refine and sell.

Basically, plenty of new jobs are created where the product ends up - in Asia.

Oh, you meant US jobs? Sorry, the Summer Of Recovery (courtesy of Obama and Biden) is now over, no more jobs until the next Stimulus Bill and the Springtime of Recovery!


14 posted on 10/26/2010 4:37:31 AM PDT by PugetSoundSoldier (Indignation over the Sting of Truth is the defense of the indefensible)
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To: prisoner6

And this just when the skies of November are about to turn gloomy.


15 posted on 10/26/2010 4:44:43 AM PDT by jimfree (In 2012 Sarah Palin will continue to have more relevant quality executive experience than B. Obama.)
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To: prisoner6

Sounds like its mostly grain shipments. With Russia not selling any, this is to be expected. As this is all raw material, I fail to see how it helps out much. Its not like we are shipping cars or other value added goods over seas.


16 posted on 10/26/2010 4:52:00 AM PDT by Colvin (Proud Owner '66 Binder PU, '66 Binder Travelall,)
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To: FreedomPoster; Lazmataz

IIRC Shipping companies were hiring in the late winter/early spring this year. How I would like to be able to sign on, but at my age and with no experience....sigh.


17 posted on 10/26/2010 4:54:58 AM PDT by prisoner6 (Right Wing Nuts are holding The Constitution together as the Loose Screws of The Left come undone!)
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To: prisoner6

The Red Diaper-Doper Babies have their dydies in a wet-wad recently over Canada shipping their spent nuclear reactors to Sweden for re-cycling, via the Great Lakes.

“Oh! Oh! Oh! That’s going to pollute our PRECIOUS, GORGEOUS, BEAUTIFUL, FANTASTIC Great Lakes!!!!!” Ooooh! Oooooh!”

The power company rep said “If you dropped your pacemaker into the lakes it would pollute them more than this will”.

The Whiners said, “Oh! Did you hear how he brushed us off? He’s ARROGANT!!!”.


18 posted on 10/26/2010 5:14:43 AM PDT by RoadTest (Religion is a substitute for the relationship God wants with you.)
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To: jimfree

‘Tis the Witch of November come stealin’.


19 posted on 10/26/2010 5:25:51 AM PDT by IronJack (=)
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To: gunsequalfreedom
I deal with the flatbed world. We have trouble getting trucks everyday. Biggest problem is that they cannot get back hauls from our destinations. There is still a shortage of trucks. Many lines closed down. The rates are still not very good either.
20 posted on 10/26/2010 5:31:43 AM PDT by mad_as_he$$ (Playing by the rules only works if both sides do it!)
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