Shipments of limestone on the Great Lakes totaled 4.1 million net tons in July, an increase of 6 percent over June, and 11.9 percent better than a year ago, reports the Lake Carriers Association (LCA).  Loadings were also more than 8 percent ahead of the month’s five-year average, according to LCA.

Shipments from U.S. ports rose 12.3 percent to 3,347,818 tons. Canadian quarries’ total of 735,935 tons represented an increase of roughly three boat loads, LCA reports.

Year-to-date the Lakes limestone trade stands at 14 million tons, an increase of 14 percent compared to a year ago, and a slight increase compared to the 5-year average for the January-July timeframe, according to LCA.

For charts of the Great Lakes Limestone Shipments from U.S. and Canadian Ports: July 2007-2012 and 5-Year Average (net tons) and Great Lakes Limestone Shipments from U.S. and Canadian Ports: Year-To-Date 2007-2012 and 5-Year Average (net tons), click here for a downloadable PDF of LCA’s press release.