Great Lakes Limestone Trade Slides in May

Shipments of limestone on the Great Lakes totaled 3.6 million tons in May, a decrease of 5.4 percent compared to a year ago, the Lake Carriers’ Association  (LCA) reported. May’s loadings were, however, slightly above the month’s five-year average.

Loadings from U.S. quarries totaled 2.9 million tons, a decrease of 4.2 percent compared to a year ago, while shipments from Canadian quarries totaled 683,000 tons, a decrease of 9.3 percent, LCA said.

Year-to-date the Lakes limestone trade stands at 5.3 million tons, a decrease of 12.3 percent compared to a year ago. Loadings from Michigan and Ohio quarries total 4.3 million tons, a decrease of 11.4 percent. Shipments from Ontario quarries total 980,000 tons, a decrease of 16.3 percent.