Great Lakes limestone trade down significantly in June 2020

Shipments of limestone on the Great Lakes totaled 3.2 million tons in June, a decrease of 21.2 percent from a year ago.

According to the Lake Carriers’ Association (LCA), this June’s loadings were below the month’s five-year average by 17.4 percent.

Loadings out of U.S. quarries totaled 2.5 million tons, a decrease of 27.2 percent compared to a year ago. Shipments from Canadian quarries totaled 728,330 tons, an increase of 9.3 percent.

Year to date, the Great Lakes limestone trade stands at nearly 9 million tons, a decrease of 16.4 percent compared to 2019. Loadings from Michigan and Ohio quarries decreased almost 19 percent from a year ago. Shipments from quarries in Ontario, Canada, total 1.8 million tons – a decrease of 3.8 percent.

U.S. ports involved in the Great Lakes limestone trade are located in Calcite, Michigan; Cedarville, Michigan; Drummond Island, Michigan; Marblehead, Ohio; Port Inland, Michigan; and Presque Isle, Michigan.

Canadian ports include Bruce Mines, Manitoulin Island, Port Colborne and Smelter Bay – all located in Ontario.

Since 1880, LCA has represented the U.S.-flag Great Lakes fleet, which today can move more than 90 million tons of cargos annually. Materials moved include iron ore, stone, coal, cement and other dry bulk materials such as grain, salt and sand.