Great Lakes limestone, sand shipments up in 2021

Limestone and sand shipments on the Great Lakes increased 16.7 percent and 21.6 percent in 2021, respectively, according to the Lake Carriers’ Association (LCA).

Compared to 2020’s year-end totals, Great Lakes limestone shipments increased 3.4 million tons to 24.1 million tons last year. That total is 10.2 percent higher than the five-year average of 21.9 million tons, LCA says.

Meanwhile, sand shipments totaled 500,055 tons in 2021, an increase of nearly 89,000 tons compared to 2020. That tonnage is 27.6 percent higher than the five-year average of 391,638 tons, according to LCA.

Additionally, shipments of cement increased nearly 5 percent in 2021 to 3.6 million tons – a mark that is 10.8 percent higher than the five-year average of 3.2 million tons.

In total, LCA says Great Lakes freighters moved 81.8 million tons of cargo in 2021, an increase of 12.2 percent versus 2020. The 2021 float was less than 1 percent below the fleet’s five-year average.