According to ArcelorMittal, the company is working to increase barge deliveries and is now allocating barge-specified orders to its Burns Harbor plant in Indiana, which is logistically capable of handling a high volume of those types of shipments.

“This is a key benefit to Burns Harbor – having the ability to receive barge orders, then execute production and shipment in a timely manner and in full barge-load quantities,” said Conrad Victor, division manager, central logistics, ArcelorMittal USA.

The company said that in 2017, it was averaging four barge deliveries per month. By early 2018, that average rose to 14 per month. And in April, it set a record as it loaded 22 barges for delivery that month. 

“Customer feedback has been generally positive,” said Jeff Webb, director of plate sales and marketing for ArcelorMittal USA.