Total tonnage for 2025 was virtually the same as 2024 as increased bulk cargo volumes made up for a steep decline in general cargo handling.
In 2024 the Seaway saw 36.9 million tonnes of cargo transit the waterway, a 1.5% decline year-on-year. That year the general cargo category showed good growth, rising 14.5% to just over 3 million tonnes.
For the 2025 navigational year the seaway saw 3,931 transits, 21 fewer than in 2024. At 36.9 million tonnes total cargo was virtually unchanged from 2024, but there were big swings in different cargo categories. General cargo dropped nearly 30% to 2.1 million tonnes, but this was made up for by an increase in grain volume of 1.09 million tonnes (+9.29%) and a 254 tonne increase in dry bulk loadings (+2%). Together grain and dry bulk make up nearly two thirds of all tonnage on the seaway.
The St Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation (SLSMC) attributed the decline in general cargo traffic to US tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminium that “challenged” movements of this cargo.
Through the Hwy H20 marketing programme the SLSMC and the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation (GLS) continue to look for new business opportunities across the Seaway system. Container traffic has been a focus previously, but so far the Seaway has not proved attractive for container logistics.
Initiatives are now focusing on the cruise industry. “Cruise Industry Cruise ship traffic continues to represent a growing sector for the Seaway, with additional major cruise lines introducing itineraries and packages featuring multiple port calls throughout the system. This activity is increasing awareness of the waterway, promoting international tourism and generating economic benefits for communities and regional economies on both sides of the Canada–U.S. border,” GLS and the SLSMS said in their annual report.
