Shipments of limestone on the Great Lakes totaled 2.9 million tons in October, a decrease of 10 percent compared to September, and 21.8 percent below the level of a year ago, according to the Cleveland-based Lake Carriers Association (LCA). The October stone float was also 20 percent off the month’s five-year average, the association reported.

U.S. port shipments fell 22 percent and loadings at Canadian quarries slipped by 24 percent, the association notes.

Year-to-date, the Great Lakes limestone trade stands at 23.5 million tons, an increase of 36,000 tons compared to a year ago, but a decrease of 1,258,000 tons, or 6 percent, compared to the five-year average for the January-October timeframe, according to the association.

For the graphic tables, “Great Lakes Limestone Trade: October 2007-2012 and 5-Year Average (net tons)” and “Great Lakes Limestone Trade: Year-to-Date 2007-2012 and 5-Year Average (net tons),” click here for a downloadable PDF.