Shipments of limestone on the Great Lakes totaled 3.6 million tons in July, a decrease of 14.3% compared to a year ago. The trade was also below the month’s five-year average by 9.3%.
Loadings from U.S. quarries totaled 2.9 million tons, a decrease of 14% compared to 2023. Shipments from Canadian quarries decreased by 15.5% to 651,155 tons.
Year-to-date the Lakes limestone trade stands at 13.3 million tons, an increase of 2.7% compared to a year ago. Loadings from Michigan and Ohio quarries total 10.7 million tons, an increase of 3.8%. Shipments from Ontario quarries total 2.6 million tons, a decrease of 1.8% compared to 2023.
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.