Shipments of limestone on the Great Lakes totaled 3.65 million tons in October, an increase of 10.6 percent compared to a year ago, according to a report today from the Lake Carriers’ Association. October’s loadings were also 7.5 percent ahead of the month’s 5-year average.
Loadings from US quarries, of which a significant portion is destined for steelmakers in the region, totaled 3 million tons, an increase of 11.1 percent compared to a year ago. Shipments from Canadian quarries totaled 665,000 tons, an increase of 8.4 percent over a year ago.
Year-to-date the Lakes limestone trade stands at 23.8 million tons, an increase of 4.3 percent compared to a year ago. Loadings from Michigan and Ohio quarries total 19.5 million tons, an increase of 6.1 percent. Shipments from Ontario quarries total 4.25 million tons, a decrease of 3 percent.