Great Lakes limestone trade down in November

Shipments of limestone on the Great Lakes totaled 2.5 million tons in November, a decrease of 24 percent compared to a year ago.

According to the Lake Carriers Association, limestone cargos were also 15.1 percent below the month’s five-year average.

Loadings from U.S. quarries totaled 2.1 million tons, down 23.1 percent from 2021. Shipments from Canadian quarries totaled 450,529 tons, a decrease of 28 percent.

Year-to-date the limestone trade stands at nearly 27.5 million tons, a decrease of 1.6 percent compared to a year ago.

Loadings from Michigan and Ohio quarries total 22 million tons, down 1 percent, while shipments from Ontario quarries total 5.6 million tons, a decrease of 4 percent from a year earlier.