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Lakes' limestone trade down 6 percent in November
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Shipments of limestone on the Great Lakes totaled 3.5 million net tons in November, a decrease of 6 percent compared to both a year ago and the month's 5-year average.
Demand is waning in light of the deteriorating economy. However, lack of adequate dredging impacted those stone cargos that did move in November. A large U.S.-Flag tug/barge unit that has carried nearly 35,000 net tons of stone in a single trip averaged only 31,101 net tons over the four cargos it carried this November.
For the year, the Lakes limestone trade stands at 31.8 million net tons, a slight decrease compared to the same point in 2007, but more than 2.7 million net tons behind the 5-year average for the January-November timeframe.
Great Lakes Limestone Trade: NOVEMBER 2003-2008 and 5-Year Average
(net tons)
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
Average
2003-2007
U.S. Ports
2,669,878
3,243,308
2,685,445
3,317,234
3,026,967
2,823,726
2,988,566
Canadian Ports
799,857
882,439
542,085
829,427
672,700
648,235
745,302
Total
3,469,735
4,125,747
3,227,530
4,146,661
3,701,674
3,471,961
3,733,868
Great Lakes Limestone Trade: Year-To-Date 2003-2008 and 5-Year Average
(net tons)
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
Average
2003-2007
U.S. Ports
25,392,253
30,161,267
28,397,750
28,407,805
26,228,589
25,240,080
27,717,533
Canadian Ports
6,418,685
7,854,404
6,979,850
7,269,610
5,690,875
6,598,612
6,842,685
Total
31,812,941
38,017,675
35,379,605
35,679,421
31,921,471
31,838,692
34,560,218
U.S. ports: Calcite, MI, Cedarville, MI, Drummond Island, MI, Kellys Island, OH, Marblehead, OH, Port Inland, MI and Presque Isle, MI. Canadian ports: Bruce Mines, Manitoulin Island, Port Colborne, and Smelter Bay (all Ontario). Port Colborne ceased shipping by vessel in 2006.
Lake Carriers' Association represents 16 American corporations that operate 63 U.S.-Flag vessels on the Great Lakes. These vessels carry the raw materials that drive the nation's economy: Iron ore and fluxstone for the steel industry, limestone, and cement for the construction industry, coal for power generation.... Collectively, these vessels can transport more than 115 million tons of cargo a year when high water levels offset the lack of adequate dredging of Great Lakes ports and waterways.
Source:http://www.businessnorth.com
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