Shipments of limestone on the Great Lakes totaled 3.7 million tons in June, a decrease of 7.8 percent compared to a year ago, according to a report this week from the Lake Carriers’ Association. June’s loadings were, however, just slightly below the month’s 5-year average.
Loadings out of US quarries totaled 2,948,189 tons, a decrease of 10 percent compared to a year ago. Shipments from Canadian quarries totaled 780,907 tons, an increase of 16,770 tons, or roughly one load in a river-class laker.
Year-to-date the Lakes limestone trade stands at 9.8 million tons, a decrease of 1 percent compared to a year ago. Loadings out of Michigan and Ohio quarries have slipped 4 percent to 7,842,580 tons. Shipments from Ontario quarries total 1,950,646 tons, an increase of 233,000 tons.
SteelOrbis reported last week that shipments of iron ore on the Great Lakes fell 7.3 percent in June, year-on-year.