Great Lakes limestone trade trending below 2019

Shipments of limestone on the Great Lakes totaled 3.3 million tons in October, a decrease of 13.8 percent compared to a year ago, the Lake Carriers’ Association (LCA) reports.

Limestone cargos were also below October’s five-year average by 6.9 percent.

According to LCA, loadings from U.S. quarries totaled 2.6 million tons – a decrease of 17.3 percent. Shipments from Canadian quarries totaled 708,406 tons, an increase of 1.6 percent.

On the year, the Great Lakes limestone trade stands at 22.6 million tons. That’s a decrease of 16.9 percent compared to 2019, LCA says.

2020 loadings from Michigan and Ohio quarries total nearly 18 million tons – a decrease of 19.3 percent. Shipments from Ontario, Canada, quarries total 4.7 million tons, a decrease 6.2 percent.

In September, shipments of limestone on the Great Lakes totaled 3.3 million tons for a decrease of 18 percent compared to the prior year. Limestone cargos were below September’s five-year average by 4.4 percent, LCA says.