Shipments of limestone on the Great Lakes increased 1.1 percent in April, compared to the same time period in 2019, to a total of 2.1 million tons, the Lake Carriers’ Association (LCA) reports.
Loadings were up 22 percent, compared to the month’s five-year average, with loadings at U.S. quarries, specifically, up 3.8 percent.
Shipments from Canadian quarries retreated 15.3 percent to 245,191 tons.
According to LCA, the year-to-date limestone trade stands at 2.3 million tons. That’s a 5 percent drop from 2019.
In addition, shipments from U.S. ports total 2 million tons – a 3.5 percent decrease from a year ago.
The year-to-date total for U.S. ports includes 125,070 tons shipped in March, LCA adds.
LCA represents 13 American companies that operate 45 U.S.-flag vessels on the Great Lakes. These companies carry the raw materials, including iron ore, flux stone, aggregate, cement, coal, sand and grain.
