Shipments of limestone on the Great Lakes, much of it destined to steel mills in the US and Canada, totaled 3.6 million tons in September, an increase of 3.7 percent compared to a year ago, according to a report today from the Lake Carriers’ Association. Limestone cargos also bettered the month’s 5-year average by 8 percent, the report said.
Loadings from US quarries totaled 2.9 million tons, an increase of 1.8 percent, or 54,000 tons compared to a year ago. Shipments from Canadian quarries totaled 685,000 tons, an increase of 12.4 percent, or 76,000 tons.
Year-to-date the limestone trade stands at 20.8 million tons, an increase of 3.6 percent compared to a year ago. Loadings from Michigan and Ohio quarries total 17 million tons, an increase of 3.1 percent. Shipments from Ontario quarries total 3.8 million tons, an increase 5.8 percent.