Great Lakes limestone trade up nearly 4 percent in September 2018

Shipments of limestone on the Great Lakes totaled 3.6 million tons in September, an increase of 3.7 percent compared with one year ago.

According to the Lake Carriers’ Association, limestone cargos also bettered the month’s five-year average by 8 percent.

Loadings from U.S. quarries totaled 2.9 million tons, an increase of 1.8 percent, or 54,000 tons compared with one year ago. Shipments from Canadian quarries totaled 685,000 tons, an increase of 12.4 percent, or 76,000 tons.

Year to date, the limestone trade stands at 20.8 million tons, an increase of 3.6 percent compared with one year ago. Loadings from Michigan and Ohio quarries total 17 million tons, an increase of 3.1 percent. Shipments from Ontario quarries total 3.8 million tons, an increase 5.8 percent.