Lakes Limestone Trade Up Nearly 13% in August

Shipments of limestone on the Great Lakes totaled 3.6 million tons in August, an increase of 3.7% compared to July, and 12.8% better than a year ago.

Shipments from U.S. ports totaled 3.15 million tons, an increase of 18.1% compared to a year ago. Loadings at Canadian quarries slipped by nearly 13%, falling to 485,000 tons.

Year-to-date the Lakes limestone trade stands at 16.5 million tons, a decrease of 4.6% compared to a year ago, and 7% below the long-term average for the January-August timeframe.

U.S. ports: Calcite, Mich.; Cedarville, Mich.; Drummond Island, Mich.; Kellys Island, Ohio; Marblehead, Ohio; Port Inland, Mich. and Presque Isle, Mich. Kellys Island ceased shipping in fall 2009. Canadian ports: Bruce Mines, Manitoulin Island and Smelter Bay (all Ontario).

Lake Carriers’ Association represents 17 American companies that operate 57 U.S.-flag vessels on the Great Lakes and carry the raw materials that drive the nation’s economy: iron ore and fluxstone for the steel industry, aggregate and cement for the construction industry, coal for power generation, as well as salt, sand and grain. Collectively, these vessels can transport more than 115 million tons of cargo per year.

lcaships.com