July 2026 Trade of U.S. Great Lakes Limestone Increases
U.S. shipments of limestone on the Great Lakes increased to 3.1 million tons in July, an 8.7 percent increase compared to last year. The trade was also above the month’s 5-year average by 3.2 percent.
Year-to-date, the Lakes limestone trade stands at 10.1 million tons, a decrease of 3 percent compared to 2025 and 4.2 percent below the month’s 5-year average.
GREAT LAKES LIMESTONE TRADE: JULY 2021-2026 AND LONG-TERM AVERAGE
(NET TONS)
| 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 | Average |
U.S. Ports | 2,959,154 | 3,041,011 | 3,388,330 | 2,912,284 | 2,882,554 | 3,134,730 | 3,036,667 |
Canadian Ports | 839,825 | 931,669 | 770,365 | 651,155 | 646,418 | NA** | 767,886 |
Total | 3,798,979 | 3,972,680 | 4,158,695 | 3,563,439 | 3,528,972 | 3,134,730 | 3,804,553 |
YEAR-TO-DATE 2021-2026 AND LONG-TERM AVERAGE
(NET TONS)
| 2021 | 2022 | 2023* | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 | Average |
U.S. Ports | 10,488,981 | 10,700,362 | 10,351,009 | 10,745,581 | 10,402,975 | 10,094,538 | 10,537,782 |
Canadian Ports | 3,270,092 | 2,986,502 | 2,645,770 | 2,598,228 | 2,271,480 | NA** | 2,754,414 |
Total | 13,759,073 | 13,686,864 | 12,996,779 | 13,343,809 | 12,674,455 | 10,094,538 | 13,292,196 |
*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.
