Shipments of limestone on the Great Lakes totaled 3.5 million tons in June, an increase of 6.5% from 2024, according to the Lake Carriers’ Association. This June’s loadings were below the month’s 5-year average by 1.9%.

Loadings out of U.S. quarries totaled 2.9 million tons, an increase of 12.2% compared to last year. Shipments from Canadian quarries totaled 639,301 tons, a decrease of 13.4%.

Year-to-date, the Lakes limestone trade stands at 9.1 million tons, a decrease of 6.5% compared to a year ago. Loadings from Michigan and Ohio quarries decreased by 4% from 2024 to 7.5 million tons. Shipments from Ontario quarries total 1.6 million tons, a decrease of 16.5%.

Meanwhile, shipments of iron ore on the Great Lakes totaled 4.9 million tons in June, a decrease of 9.6% from 2024.  Shipments were 1.2% below the month’s 5-year average.

Year-to-date the iron ore trade stands at 16.6 million tons, a decrease of 16.1% compared to the previous year’s total.  Iron shipments are below their 5-year average by 8.9% for the first half of the year.

Feature image: Wilfred Sikes/courtesy of Lake Carriers’ Association