The Lake Carriers Association reports that shipments of limestone on the Great Lakes totaled 3.6 million tons in August, a decrease of 16.6 percent from 2019. Limestone cargos were also below the month’s 5-year average by 8.4 percent.
Loadings from U.S. quarries totaled 2.9 million tons, a decrease of 18 percent compared to a year ago. Shipments from Canadian quarries totaled 729,336 tons, a decrease of 10.8 percent.
Year-to-date the Lakes limestone trade stands at 16 million tons, a decrease of 17.3 percent compared to a year ago. Loadings from Michigan and Ohio quarries total 12.7 million tons, a decrease of 20 percent. Shipments from Ontario quarries total 3.3 million tons, a decrease of 4.8 percent.
GREAT LAKES LIMESTONE TRADE: AUGUST 2015-2020 AND LONG-TERM AVERAGE (NET TONS)
| 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | Average | |
| U.S. Ports | 3,273,229 | 2,765,206 | 3,358,064 | 3,248,082 | 3,485,279 | 2,857,671 | 3,225,972 |
| Canadian Ports | 619,373 | 600,793 | 674,128 | 731,350 | 817,827 | 729,336 | 688,694 |
| Total | 3,892,602 | 3,365,999 | 4,032,192 | 3,979,432 | 4,303,106 | 3,587,007 | 3,914,666 |
YEAR-TO-DATE 2015-2020 AND LONG-TERM AVERAGE (NET TONS)
| 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | Average 2015-2019 | |
| U.S. Ports | 14,958,355 | 13,194,053 | 13,642,900 | 14,097,966 | 15,877,579 | 12,690,142 | 14,354,171 |
| Canadian Ports | 2,898,980 | 3,313,212 | 3,042,153 | 3,258,173 | 3,479,313 | 3,312,528 | 3,198,366 |
| Total | 17,857,335 | 16,507,265 | 16,685,053 | 17,356,139 | 19,356,892 | 16,002,670 | 17,552,537 |
U.S. Ports: Calcite, MI; Cedarville, MI; Drummond Island, MI; Marblehead, OH; Port Inland, MI; and Presque Isle, MI (Stoneport).
Canadian ports: Bruce Mines, Manitoulin Island (Meldrum Bay), Port Colborne (from August 2017 on), and Smelter Bay (all Ontario).
