Another Good Month for Lakes Limestone; Up 16 Percent in May.
Shipments of limestone on the Great Lakes totaled 3,355,389 net tons in May, an increase of 30 percent compared to April and 15.6 percent better than a year ago. However, shipments were down 9.3 percent compared to the month’s 5-year average. The strongest gains came at U.S. ports. Loadings rose by 380,000 tons, or 16.2 percent. Shipments from Canadian quarries increased by 73,000 tons, or 13.2 percent.
Year-to-date the Lakes limestone trade stands at 6.1 million net tons, an increase of 20.3 percent compared to a year ago, but a few boatloads shy of the 5-year average for the January-May timeframe. U.S. ports: Calcite, MI, Cedarville, MI, Drummond Island, MI, Kellys Island, OH, Marblehead, OH, Port Inland, MI and Presque Isle, MI. Kellys Island ceased shipping in fall 2009. Canadian ports: Bruce Mines, Manitoulin Island and Smelter Bay (all Ontario).
Lake Carriers’ Association represents 17 American companies that operate 57 U.S.-flag vessels on the Great Lakes and carry the raw materials that drive the nation’s economy: iron ore and fluxstone for the steel industry, limestone and cement for the construction industry, coal for power generation, as well as salt, sand grain. Collectively, these vessels can transport more than 115 million tons of cargo per year. The cargos these vessels carry generate and sustain more than 103,000 jobs in the United States and have an economic impact of more than $20 billion.
More information available at www.lcaships.com.