Shipments of iron ore and limestone on the Great Lakes were down in October compared to a year earlier, reported the Cleveland-based Lake Carriers’ Association.
Iron ore shipments in October totaled 4.4 million tons in October, a decrease of 1.3 percent compared to 2024. Shipments were 8 percent below the month’s 5-year average.
Year-to-date, the iron ore trade stands at 35.8 million tons, a decrease of 12.6 percent compared to last year.
Shipments of limestone on the Great Lakes totaled 3.2 million tons in October, a decrease of 3.8 percent compared to 2024. Limestone cargos were also below the month’s 5-year average by 10.7 percent.
Loadings from U.S. quarries totaled 2.6 million tons, a 6.1 percent reduction. Shipments from Canadian quarries increased 6.8 percent to 626,805 tons.
Year-to-date, the limestone trade stands at 22.8 million tons, a decrease of 5.6 percent compared to a year ago. Loadings from Michigan and Ohio quarries decreased 4.5 percent from last year to 18.6 million tons; while shipments from Ontario quarries total 4.2 million tons, a decrease of 10 percent.
(LCA photo)