Lakes iron ore, limestone trade slips in October

Iron ore shipments on the Great Lakes totaled 5.3 million tons in October, while limestone shipments reached 3.4 million tons, year-over-year decreases of 23 percent and 8 percent, respectively.    Great Lakes iron ore and limestone shipments declined in October compared to last year.
   Iron ore shipments from Canadian ports posted year-over-year increases in October and for the first ten months of the year, however this was not enough to offset the decrease in shipments from U.S. ports.
   Iron ore shipments totaled 5.3 million tons during the month, a 23 percent decline from Oct. 2014, according to the Lakes Carriers’ Association, which represents 15 American companies that operate 56 U.S.-flag vessels on the Great Lakes.
   Overall, for the first ten months of 2015, the Great Lakes/Seaway iron ore trade stood at 44.4 million tons, a 6 percent decline from the corresponding period in 2014.
   Limestone shipments totaled 3.4 million tons in October, an 8 percent drop from Oct. 2014, while limestone shipments through October totaled 24.5 million tons, a 6.5 percent increase from the same period last year.