LIMESTONE
Shipments of limestone on the Great Lakes totalled 3.9mt (million tonnes) in July, an increase of 15.4% compared to a year ago. July’s loadings were also slightly ahead of the month’s five-year average, according to a report from the Lake Carriers’ Association.
Loadings from US quarries totalled 3.16mt, an increase of 22.3% compared to a year ago.
Shipments from Canadian quarries totalled
700,000,000 kilograms, a decrease of
60,000,000 kilograms.
Year-to-date the Lakes limestone trade stands at 12.6mt, a decrease of 9.6% compared to a year ago. Loadings from Michigan and Ohio quarries total 10.3mt, a decrease of 1.4%. Shipments from Ontario quarries total 2.35mt, a decrease of 13.4%.
IRON ORE
Shipments of iron ore on the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Seaway totalled 6.4mt in July, an increase of 14.7% compared to a year ago. However, shipments trailed the month’s five-year average by 2.3%.
Shipments from U.S. Great Lakes ports totalled 6mt in July, an increase of 21.7% compared to a year ago. Loadings at Canadian terminals in the Seaway totalled
391,000,000 kilograms, a drop of nearly 40%.
Year-to-date the iron ore trade stands at 30.1mt, an increase of 12.4% compared to the same point in 2016. Year- over-year, loadings at US ports total 27.5mt, an increase of 14.3%. Shipments from Canadian ports in the St. Lawrence Seaway total 2.65mt, a decrease of 4%.
LAKE CARRIERS’ ASSOCIATION
Lake Carriers’ Association represents 13 American companies that operate 49 US-flag vessels on the Great Lakes and carry the raw materials that drive the nation’s economy: iron ore and fluxstone for the steel industry, aggregate and cement for the construction industry, coal for power generation, as well as sand, grain and other dry-bulk cargoes. Collectively, these vessels can transport more than 100mt of cargo per year.