Great Lakes limestone shipments trending in right direction

Shipments of limestone on the Great Lakes totaled 3.7 million tons in August, an increase of 1.9 percent from 2020, the Lake Carriers’ Association (LCA) reports.

Limestone cargos were below the month’s five-year average by 5.1 percent, LCA says.

Loadings from U.S. quarries totaled 3 million tons in August, an increase of 5.7 percent compared to a year ago.  Shipments from Canadian quarries totaled 636,327 tons, a decrease of 12.8 percent.

Through eight months of 2021, LCA says the Great Lakes limestone trade stands at 17.4 million tons – an increase of 8.8 percent compared to one year ago. Loadings from Michigan and Ohio quarries total 13.5 million tons for an increase of 6.5 percent.  Shipments from Ontario, Canada, quarries total 3.9 million tons for an increase of 17.9 percent.