Great Lakes limestone trade up in October 2019

Shipments of limestone on the Great Lakes totaled 3.8 million tons in October, an increase of 11.4 percent compared to a year ago.

According to the Lake Carriers’ Association (LCA), limestone cargos also bettered October’s five-year average by 8.5 percent.

Loadings from U.S. quarries totaled 3.1 million tons, an increase of 10.6 percent. Shipments from Canadian quarries totaled 696,978 tons, an increase of 15.5 percent.

Year to date, the limestone trade stands at 27.2 million tons – an increase of 11.5 percent compared to a year ago. Loadings from Michigan and Ohio quarries total 22.3 million tons, an increase of 12.2 percent. Shipments from quarries in Ontario, Canada, total 4.96 million tons – an increase 8.5 percent.

Since 1880, LCA has represented the U.S.-flag Great Lakes fleet, which today can move more than 90 million tons of cargos annually.