Shipments of limestone on the Great Lakes totaled 3.2 million tons in June, a decrease of 21.2 percent from a year ago. June’s loadings were below the month’s five-year average by 17.4 percent, said  Lake Carriers’ Association (LCA). During May, shipments of limestone on the Great Lakes totaled 3.5 million tons in May, a decrease of 18.1% compared to a year ago, according to the Lake Carriers’ Association. May’s loadings were also below the month’s five-year average by 8.7%.

Year to date, the Great Lakes limestone trade stands at 9 million tons, a decrease of 16.4 percent compared to 2019. Loadings from Michigan and Ohio quarries decreased 19 percent from a year ago. Shipments from quarries in Ontario, Canada, total 1.8 million tons – a decrease of 3.8 percent. Loadings out of U.S. quarries totaled 2.5 million tons, a decrease of 27.2 percent compared to a year ago. Shipments from Canadian quarries totaled 728,330 tons, an increase of 9.3 percent.

U.S. ports involved in the Great Lakes limestone trade are in Calcite, Michigan; Cedarville, Michigan; Drummond Island, Michigan; Marblehead, Ohio; Port Inland, Michigan; and Presque Isle, Michigan. Since 1880, LCA has represented the U.S.-flag Great Lakes fleet, which today can move more than 90 million tons of cargos annually. Materials moved include iron ore, stone, coal, cement and other dry bulk materials such as grain, salt and sand.