DULUTH, Minn. (Northern News Now) – The Great Lakes shipping season ended Jan. 15 with the closing of the Soo Locks and port leaders say 2025 was a difficult year.
REALTED: Great Lakes shipping season ends capping a challenging year
The total tonnage passing through the Duluth-Superior port was down in 2025 compared to the five-season average, according to the Duluth Seaway Port Authority.
The total tonnage was the lowest since 1938, down 14.6 percent from 2024.
The decline wasn’t caused by a single factor.
Instead, port officials point to a combination of challenges like shifting trade lanes, geopolitical forces and weather conditions.
With that, there was a decline in iron ore.
There were 19.4 million tons of iron ore shipped through the ports in 2024 and it dropped to 16.5 in 2025.
“The season began with diminished steel demand in the United States and idled mines in Hibbing and Virginia,” said Jayson Hron, Director of Communication and Marketing for the Duluth Seaway Port Authority. “Obviously, that tricked down through the entire supply chain and that’s why you see part of the tonnage drop.”
He also noted that blast furnace conversion played a role, along with increased scrap metal usage.
However, Hron mentioned that breakbulk, which includes wind energy cargo, was a highlight for the season.
“The port crossed 2.6 million freight tons for all time this past summer for that particular cargo category,” he said.
Other highlights included the DECC Harbor Plaza project completion and the TPI completion.
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