Great Lakes Limestone Trade Increases in September
U.S. shipments of limestone on the Great Lakes increased 1.8 percent from last year to 2.7 million tons. Limestone cargos were below the month’s 5-year average by 5.8 percent.
Year-to-date, the limestone trade stands at 15.9 million tons, a decrease of less than one percent compared to 2025 and 3.2 percent below the month’s 5-year average.
GREAT LAKES LIMESTONE TRADE: SEPTEMBER 2021-2026 AND LONG-TERM AVERAGE
(NET TONS)
| 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 | Average |
U.S. Ports | 3,022,989 | 2,859,853 | 2,791,942 | 3,088,692 | 2,670,502 | 2,718,642 | 2,886,796 |
Canadian Ports | 684,234 | 675,023 | 651,520 | 678,580 | 663,144 | NA** | 670,500 |
Total | 3,671,223 | 3,534,876 | 3,443,462 | 3,767,272 | 3,333,646 | 2,718,642 | 3,550,096 |
YEAR-TO-DATE 2021-2026 AND LONG-TERM AVERAGE
(NET TONS)
| 2021 | 2022 | 2023* | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 | Average |
U.S. Ports | 16,531,770 | 16,669,959 | 16,409,008 | 16,737,173 | 16,027,191 | 15,948,264 | 16,475,020 |
Canadian Ports | 4,554,653 | 4,401,647 | 4,051,468 | 4,085,840 | 3,582,027 | NA** | 4,135,127 |
Total | 21,086,423 | 21,071,606 | 20,460,476 | 20,823,013 | 19,609,218 | 15,948,264 | 20,610,147 |
*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.
