Great Lakes Limestone Trade Decreases in October 2026
U.S. shipments of limestone on the Great Lakes decreased 7.8 percent from 2025 to 2.95 million tons. Limestone cargos were below the month’s 5-year average by 17.3 percent.
Year-to-date, the limestone trade stands at 18.8 million tons, a decrease of 17.7 percent compared to last year and 22.4 percent below the month’s 5-year average.
GREAT LAKES LIMESTONE TRADE: OCTOBER 2021-2026 AND LONG-TERM AVERAGE
(NET TONS)
| 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 | Average |
U.S. Ports | 2,915,616 | 3,197,709 | 2,992,462 | 2,740,218 | 2,573,839 | 2,951,990 | 2,883,969 |
Canadian Ports | 638,517 | 736,157 | 835,201 | 587,069 | 626,805 | NA** | 684,750 |
Total | 3,554,133 | 3,933,866 | 3,827,663 | 3,327,287 | 3,200,644 | 2,951,990 | 3,568,719 |
YEAR-TO-DATE 2021-2026 AND LONG-TERM AVERAGE
(NET TONS)
| 2021 | 2022 | 2023* | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 | Average |
U.S. Ports | 19,447,386 | 19,867,668 | 19,401,470 | 19,477,391 | 18,601,030 | 18,770,047 | 19,358,989 |
Canadian Ports | 5,193,170 | 5,137,804 | 4,886,669 | 4,672,909 | 4,208,832 | NA** | 4,819,877 |
Total | 24,640,556 | 25,005,472 | 24,288,139 | 24,150,300 | 22,809,862 | 18,770,047 | 24,178,866 |
*Revised 7/11/24
U.S. ports: Calcite, MI; Cedarville, MI; Drummond Island, MI; Marblehead, OH; Port Inland, MI; and Presque Isle, MI. Canadian ports: Bruce Mines, Manitoulin Island, Port Colborne (from August 2017 on), and Smelter Bay (all Ontario).
**As of April 2026, Canadian ports are no longer supplying information on limestone shipments.
