Great Lakes Limestone Trade Lags

Great lakes limestone shipments totaled just 1,254,226 net tons in April, a decrease of 23 percent compared to a year ago as the coldest April in more than two decades put a chill on the trade. According to the Lake Carriers’ Association (LCA), loadings trailed the month’s five-year average by even more – 33.3 percent.

Loadings at U.S. ports totaled 1.1 million tons, a decrease of 19 percent, while shipments from Canadian quarries totaled 177,000 tons, a decrease of nearly 41 percent, LCA said.

LCA reports year-to-date the limestone trade stands at 1.5 million tons, a decrease of 12.8 percent.

Shipments from U.S. ports total 1.3 million tons, a decrease of 7 percent. The year-to-date total for U.S. ports includes 17,664 tons loaded in February and 218,452 tons shipped in March.

No limestone moved from Canadian quarries during the first quarter, so the April total is also the year-to-date total for Canadian ports.

Great Lakes Limestone Trade: April 2013-2018 and Long-term Average
(net tons)

	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017	2018	Average 2013-2017
U.S. Ports	1,596,519	968,472	1,604,339	1,552,490	1,332,839	1,077,612	1,410,932
Canadian Ports	247,670	14,658	214,366	394,773	297,242	176,614	233,742
Total	1,844,189	983,130	1,818,705	1,947,263	1,630,081	1,254,226	1,878,416

Year-to-date 2013-2018 and Long-Term Average
(net tons)

	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017	2018	Average 2013-2017
U.S. Ports	1,889,379	968,472	1,801,615	1,840,722	1,411,328	1,313,728	1,582,303
Canadian Ports	248,141	14,658	238,096	416,882	297,242	176,614	243,004
Total	2,137,520	983,130	2,039,711	2,257,604	1,708,570	1,490,342	2,068,311

U.S. ports: Calcite, Mich.; Cedarville, Mich.:, Drummond Island, Mich.;, Marblehead, Ohio; Port Inland, Mich.; and Presque Isle, Mich.
Canadian ports: Bruce Mines, Manitoulin Island and Smelter Bay (all Ontario).