Great Lakes limestone shipments up in August

Great Lakes limestone loadings from Michigan and Ohio quarries total 13.1 million tons through eight months of 2023. Photo: Lake Carriers’ Association

Shipments of limestone on the Great Lakes totaled 4 million tons in August, the Lake Carriers’ Association (LCA) reports.

According to LCA, August’s limestone total is up 4.4 percent from August 2022. Limestone cargos were above the month’s five-year average by 3.7 percent.

August loadings from U.S. quarries totaled 3.3 million tons, an increase of 5 percent versus August 2022. Shipments from Canadian quarries totaled 754,178 tons, marking a 1.9 percent increase.

On the year, the Great Lakes limestone trade stands at 16.2 million tons. That’s a 7.4 percent decrease compared to a year ago, LCA says.

2023 loadings from Michigan and Ohio quarries total 13.1 million tons for a 5.1 percent decrease. 2023 shipments from quarries in Ontario, Canada, total 3.1 million tons for a decrease of 15.6 percent.

LCA represents the U.S.-flag Great Lakes fleet, which moves more than 90 million tons of cargos each year. Among the cargos the fleet transports are stone, sand, cement and other dry bulk materials.