Limestone shipments increased on the Great Lakes in August 2014

The Lake Carriers’ Association has released its latest monthly report for limestone shipments on North America’s Great Lakes. In August 2014, shipments reached 3.7 million t. This is 2.8% higher than the corresponding month in 2013 when shipments totalled approximately 3.6 million t. The August 2014 figure has improved the month’s long-term average by nearly 7%.

During the month, shipments from quarries in Canada grew by 36% y/y to 660 210 t. Loadings from US quarries, however, declined slightly to 3.1 million t.

In the first eight months of this year, total limestone trade on the Great Lakes came in at 15.8 million t, down 4.2% y/y. The Association points out that this y/y decline is less marked than earlier in 2014. At the end of April, for example, year-to-date limestone shipments were 55% lower than in 2013, but easing ice conditions from May onwards have helped to reduce the percentage difference.

Coal trade on the Great Lakes fell by 11% y/y to around 12.8 million t in January – August 2014. In August alone, shipments dropped by 18% y/y to 2.6 million t. Within this, shipments from Lake Erie ports grew by 18% y/y, while coal shipments from Lake Superior decreased by 28% y/y and loadings on Lake Michigan declined by 34% y/y.

Adapted from press releases by Louise Fordham

Read the article online at: https://www.worldcement.com/the-americas/18092014/limestone-shipments-up-year-on-year-for-great-lakes-in-august-2014-511/