Dry-bulk shipping in the Great Lakes and St Lawrence Seaway markets strengthened in August thanks to rising US grain exports and strength in iron ore and construction materials markets, according to the Chamber of Marine Commerce.

Cargo volumes for the current shipping season, which begins 21 March, are down 7.5% from a year ago at 17.3m tons. But the Chamber noted that August cargo shipments were up 8% from a year ago.

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