Limestone Shipments from US Ports Down 27.5% in April
Limestone shipments from U.S. ports decreased 27.5 percent compared to April 2025 to 1.1 million net tons. Loadings were also below the month’s 5-year average by 35.4 percent.
Year-to-date, the U.S. limestone trade stands at 1.2 million tons, a decrease of 26.6 percent from last year and 31.9 percent below the 5-year average.
As of April 2026, Canadian ports are no longer supplying information regarding limestone shipments.
GREAT LAKES LIMESTONE TRADE: APRIL 2021-2026 AND LONG-TERM AVERAGE
(NET TONS)
| 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 | Average |
U.S. Ports | 1,926,878 | 1,646,373 | 1,622,632 | 1,874,176 | 1,533,095 | 1,112,052 | 1,720,631 |
Canadian Ports | 490,088 | 370,107 | 323,039 | 459,393 | 297,064 | NA* | 387,938 |
Total | 2,416,966 | 2,016,480 | 1,945,671 | 2,333,569 | 1,830,159 | 1,112,052 | 2,108,569 |
YEAR-TO-DATE 2021-2026 AND LONG-TERM AVERAGE
(NET TONS)
| 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 | Average 2021-2025 |
U.S. Ports | 1,972,565 | 1,646,373 | 1,712,815 | 2,103,241 | 1,694,278 | 1,243,304 | 1,825,854 |
Canadian Ports | 520,152 | 370,107 | 323,039 | 473,978 | 297,064 | NA* | 396,868 |
Total | 2,492,717 | 2,016,480 | 2,035,854 | 2,577,219 | 1,991,342 | 1,243,304 | 2,222,722 |
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.
