Shipments of limestone on the Great Lakes totaled 3.8 million tons in October, an increase of 11.4% compared to a year ago, according to the Lake Carriers’ Association. Limestone cargos also bettered the month’s five-year average by 8.5%.
Loadings from U.S. quarries totaled 3.1 million tons, an increase of 10.6%. Shipments from Canadian quarries totaled 696,978 tons, an increase of 15.5%.
Year-to-date the limestone trade stands at 27.2 million tons, an increase of 11.5% compared to a year ago. Loadings from Michigan and Ohio quarries total 22.3 million tons, an increase of 12.2%. Shipments from Ontario quarries total 4.96 million tons, an increase of 8.5%.
Since 1880, Lake Carriers’ Association has represented the U.S.-flag Great Lakes fleet, which today can move more than 90 million tons of cargo annually that are the foundation of American industry, infrastructure and power: iron ore, stone, coal, cement and other dry bulk materials such as grain, salt and sand.