WASHINGTON, DC, US — The St. Lawrence Seaway moved 10.49 million tonnes of grain in 2023, 28% of the total cargo moved within the system and up 5% from 2022, according to a joint report from the Canadian St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corp. (SLMC) and the US Great Lakes St. Lawrence Development Corp. (GLS) released May 27.

Wheat accounted for 6.48 million tonnes, up 28% year-on-year, while corn shipments tallied 1.42 million tonnes, down 7%. Canadian wheat was just over 90% of the wheat shipments. 

Soybeans fell 35% to 1.54 million tonnes, but canola was up 6.5% at 666,464 tonnes.

Quebec City handled 1.39 million tonnes of inbound grain to lead all ports, slightly ahead of Baie Comeau, Quebec, at 1.33 million tonnes. Thunder Bay, Ontario, on Lake Superior led outbound grain shipments at 5.72 million tonnes, while Hamilton, Ontario, shipped 2.29 million tonnes.