Shipments of limestone on the Great Lakes totaled nearly 4.1 million tons in September, an increase of 12.4% compared to a year ago, according to the Lake Carriers’ Association (LCA). Limestone cargos also bettered the month’s five-year average by 20.3%.
Loadings from U.S. quarries totaled 3.3 million tons, an increase of almost 12% from 2018. Shipments from Canadian quarries totaled 785,000 tons, an increase of 14.5%.
Year-to-date the limestone trade stands at 23.4 million tons, an increase of 12.4% compared to a year ago. Loadings from Michigan and Ohio quarries total 19.1 million tons, an increase of 12.5%. Shipments from Ontario quarries total 4.3 million tons, an increase 12.1%.
Since 1880, LCA has represented the U.S.-flag Great Lakes fleet, which today can move more than 90 million tons of cargos 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.