Shipments of limestone on the Great Lakes totaled 2.9 million tons in May, a decrease of 25.5% compared to a year ago. May’s loadings were also below the month’s five-year average by 24.5%.
Loadings from U.S. quarries totaled 2.2 million tons, a decrease of 27.1% compared to 2022. Shipments from Canadian quarries totaled 685,331 tons, a decrease of 19.9%.
Year-to-date the Lakes limestone trade stands at nearly 4.9 million tons, a decrease of 16.5% compared to a year ago. Loadings from Michigan and Ohio quarries total 3.9 million tons, a decrease of 16.2%. Shipments from Ontario quarries total 1 million tons, a decrease of 17.7%.
Shipments in April totaled 1.9 million net tons, a decrease of 3.5% compared to a year ago. Loadings were below the month’s five-year average by 11.2% Loadings at U.S. ports totaled 1.6 million tons, a decrease of 1.4%. Shipments from Canadian quarries decreased by 12.7% to 323,039 tons.
Since 1880, Lake Carriers’ 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.