Great Lakes limestone trade continues downward slide

Limestone shipments on the Great Lakes totaled 3.6 million tons in August, a decrease of 16.6 percent from 2019. 

According to the Lake Carriers’ Association (LCA), limestone cargos were also below August’s five-year average by 8.4 percent.

Loadings from U.S. quarries totaled 2.9 million tons, LCA reports, representing a decrease of 18 percent compared to a year ago. Shipments from Canadian quarries totaled 729,336 tons, a decrease of 10.8 percent.

On the year, the Great Lakes limestone trade stands at 16 million tons. That’s a decrease of 17.3 percent compared to a year ago. Loadings from Michigan and Ohio quarries total 12.7 million tons, a decrease of 20 percent. Shipments from Ontario, Canada, quarries total 3.3 million tons, a decrease of 4.8 percent.

In July, shipments of limestone on the Great Lakes totaled 3.4 million tons. That mark represented a 20.4 percent decrease compared to a year ago.