Great Lakes limestone trade slides in June

Shipments of limestone on the Great Lakes totaled 3.45 million tons in June.

That’s a 7.3 percent decrease compared with one year ago, the Lake Carriers’ Association reports.

June’s loadings were also 8.9 percent below the month’s five-year average, according to the association. Loadings from U.S. quarries totaled 2.8 million tons, a decrease of 5.5 percent compared with one year ago. Shipments from Canadian quarries totaled 668,000 tons, a decrease of 14.3 percent compared with one year ago.

The Great Lakes limestone trade stands at 8.8 million tons year-to-date, which is a 10.4 percent decrease compared with a year ago. Loadings from Michigan and Ohio quarries amounted to 7.1 million tons, a decrease of 9.2 percent, and shipments from Ontario quarries amounted to 1.6 million tons, a decrease of 15.5 percent.

The Lake Carriers’ Association represents 13 American companies that operate 49 U.S.-flag vessels on the Great Lakes.