Shipments of limestone on the Great Lakes totaled nearly 3 million tons in November, a decrease of 4.9 percent compared to a year ago.  Limestone cargos were just 8,340 tons below the month’s 5-year average.

Loadings from U.S. quarries decreased 4.5 percent from 2023 to 2.5 million tons.  Shipments from Canadian quarries totaled 498,801 tons, a decrease of 7.1 percent.

Year-to-date, the limestone trade stands at 27.1 million tons, a decrease of 1.1 percent compared to a year ago.  Loadings from Michigan and Ohio quarries were a near match to 2023 at 21.9 million tons, while shipments from Ontario quarries total 5.2 million tons, a decrease of 4.6 percent from 2023.

Meanwhile, shipments of iron ore on the Great Lakes totaled 4.3 million tons in November, a decrease of 4.7 percent from 2023. Shipments were below the month’s 5-year average by 3.5 percent. Year-to-date the iron ore trade stands at 45.2 million tons, a decrease of 2.3 percent compared to the same point in 2023.

Through November iron ore loadings are 4.2 percent above their 5-year average for that timeframe.

Photos courtesy of Lake Carriers’ Association.