Great Lakes limestone shipments down 9.3 percent in August, up 9.5 percent from August 2009

Shipments of limestone on the Great Lakes totaled 3,339,540 net tons in August, a decrease of 9.3 percent compared to July, but an increase of 9.5 percent compared to a year ago, according to the Lakes Carriers Association (LCA).

The trade was down 18.4 percent when compared to the month’s five-year average, according to LCA.

Loadings at U.S. ports were up 115,000 tons compared to a year ago. Shipments from Canadian docks increase by 176,000 tons.

Year-to-date the Lakes limestone trade stands at 17 million net tons, an increase of 27.2 percent compared to a year ago, but a decrease of 15.9 percent compared to the five-year average for the January-August timeframe.

Loadings at U.S. ports are up 31 percent compared to a year ago. Shipments from Canadian docks are 14.4 percent ahead of last year’s pace, according to LCA.

Great Lakes Limestone Trade: AUGUST 2005-2010 and 5-Year Average
(net tons)


2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

Average
2005-2009

U.S. Ports

3,781,141

3,376,738

3,316,880

3,453,228

2,492,875

2,607,375

3,284,172

Canadian Ports

900,286

944,981

650,200

994,039

556,113

732,165

809,123

Total

4,681,427

4,321,719

3,969,087

4,447,267

3,048,988

3,339,540

4,093,295

Great Lakes Limestone Trade: Year-To-Date 2005-2010 and 5-Year Average
(net tons)


2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

Average
2005-2009

U.S. Ports

18,711,053

18,141,170

16,861,895

16,132,972

10,354,103

13,561,064

16,040,238

Canadian Ports

4,801,504

4,953,944

3,821,975

4,303,713

3,013,842

3,447,826

4,178,995

Total

23,512,557

23,095,114

20,685,877

20,436,685

13,367,945

17,008,890

20,219,233

 Source: Lake Carriers Association

U.S. ports: Calcite, Mich.; Cedarville, Mich.; Drummond Island, Mich.; Kellys Island, Ohio; Marblehead, Ohio; Port Inland, Mich.; and Presque Isle, Mich..  Kellys Island ceased operations in fall 2009. 

Canadian ports: Bruce Mines, Manitoulin Island, Port Colborne, and Smelter Bay (all Ontario). 

Port Colborne ceased shipping by vessel in 2006.