Slight uptick in Great Lakes limestone trade

Shipments of limestone on the Great Lakes totaled just under 4.1 million tons in June, an increase of less than 1 percent from the same time period a year ago, the Lake Carriers’ Association (LCA) says.

June’s loading, however, was 7 percent above the month’s five-year average.

Loadings out of United States quarries totaled 3.4 million tons, an increase of about 162,252 tons compared to a year ago. Shipments from Canadian quarries declined 148,331 tons (18 percent) to 666,475 tons.

Year to date, the Great Lakes limestone trade is currently at 10,753,764 tons, a 15.8 percent boost compared to 2018. Michigan and Ohio loadings, specifically, increased 15.6 percent from the same period one year ago.

Shipments from Ontario, Canada, quarries totaled 1.8 million tons, an increase of 264,980 tons.

June’s slight overall improvement comes on the heels of a 13.6 percent improvement in May.

The Lake Carriers’ Association represents 13 American companies operating 46 U.S.-flag vessels on the Great Lakes that carry raw materials, such as aggregate.