Shipments of iron ore and limestone on the Great Lakes were down for October, according to the latest figures from trade group the Lake Carriers’ Association (LCA).
Lakes iron ore shipments totaled 4.4 million tons in October, a decrease of 1.3% compared to 2024 and 8% below the month’s five-year average, according to LCA.
Year-to-date, the iron ore trade stands at 35.8 million tons, a decrease of 12.6% compared to last year. Through October, iron ore loadings are 6.7% below their five-year average.
Limestone shipments on the Great Lakes totaled 3.2 million tons in October, a decrease of 3.8% compared to 2024 and 0.7% below the month’s five-year average, LCA said.
Loadings of limestone from U.S. quarries totaled 2.6 million tons, a 6.1% reduction, while shipments from Canadian quarries increased 6.8% to 626,805 tons.
Year-to-date, the limestone trade stands at 22.8 million tons, a decrease of 5.6% compared to a year ago. Loadings from Michigan and Ohio quarries decreased 4.5% from last year to 18.6 million tons; while shipments from Ontario quarries totaled 4.2 million tons, a decrease of 10%.
