Lakes Limestone Trade Dips in November

Shipments of limestone on the Great Lakes totaled 2.7 million tons in November, a decrease of 4.4 percent compared to a year ago, the Lake Carriers’ Association reported. Limestone cargos also trailed the month’s long-term average by 9.2 percent.

The trade was impacted by weather in November, with many vessels anchoring or taking longer routes to avoid heavy weather.

Year-to-date the limestone trade stands at 25.7 million tons, a decrease of 2.4 percent compared to the same point in 2013.  The gap has narrowed considerably since the spring when heavy ice delayed full-scale resumption of limestone loadings.  At the end of April, shipments were down 54 percent.  Even come the end of July the trade was 6 percent off last year’s pace.