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 |
|
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 |
|
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.
