Great Lakes Limestone Trade Rises in September

Shipments of limestone on the Great Lakes totaled 3.6 million tons in September, an increase of 3.7 percent compared to a year ago, the Lake Carriers’ Association (LCA) reported. Limestone cargos also bettered the month’s five-year average by 8 percent.

According to the LCA, Loadings from U.S. quarries totaled 2.9 million tons, an increase of 1.8 percent, or 54,000 tons compared to a 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 to a 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.