Great Lakes limestone shipments down in 2016

Shipments of limestone on the Great Lakes totaled 26.3 million tons in 2016, a decrease of 9.3 percent compared to 2015 according to the Lake Carriers’ Association.

In addition, 2016 loadings were 5.3 percent below the trade’s five-year average.

Loadings from U.S. quarries totaled 21.4 million tons, a decrease of nearly 13 percent compared to 2015. Shipments from U.S. quarries also trailed their five-year average by 8.6 percent, the association says. Shipments from Canadian quarries totaled 5 million tons, an increase of 10.5 percent over 2015 and 12.4 percent better than their five-year average.

The Lake Carriers’ Association represents 13 American companies that operate 49 U.S.-flag vessels on the Great Lakes and carry a number of raw materials, including aggregate and cement for the construction industry.