Great Lakes limestone trade down in November 2020

Shipments of limestone on the Great Lakes totaled 2.9 million tons in November, the Lake Carriers’ Association (LCA) reports.

The 2.9 million tons in November represent a decrease of 4.9 percent compared to a year ago.

Limestone cargos were less than 1 percent above November’s five-year average, LCA adds.

Loadings from U.S. quarries decreased 11.6 percent from November 2019 to 2.3 million tons. November shipments from Canadian quarries totaled 581,670 tons, an increase of 35.4 percent.

On the year, LCA says the Great Lakes limestone trade stands at 25.5 million tons. That is a decrease of 15.7 percent compared to a year ago.

2020 loadings from Michigan and Ohio quarries decreased 18.5 percent to 20.2 million tons, while 2020 shipments from Ontario, Canada, quarries total 5.2 million tons – a decrease of 2.9 percent from 2019.

LCA represents the U.S.-flag Great Lakes fleet, which today can move more than 90 million tons of cargos each year. Cargos moved include stone, coal, cement and other dry bulk materials such as grain, salt and sand.