Lakes Limestone Trade Dips

Shipments of limestone on the Great Lakes totaled 3.4 million tons in October, a decrease of 7.5 percent compared to a year ago, the Lake Carriers' Association said. Limestone cargos also trailed the month’s five-year average by 4.6 percent.

Loadings from U.S. quarries totaled 2.8 million tons, a decrease of 6 percent. Shipments from Canadian quarries totaled 568,000 tons, a decrease of 14.6 percent.

Year-to-date the limestone trade stands at 24.2 million tons, an increase of 1.9 percent compared to a year ago. Loadings from Michigan and Ohio quarries total 19.8 million tons, an increase of 1.7 percent. Shipments from Ontario quarries total 4.4 million tons, an increase 2.6 percent.