en.Wedoany.com Reported - Iron ore shipments on the U.S. Great Lakes increased year-over-year in May, while limestone shipments declined. According to data released by the trade organization Lake Carriers' Association (LCA), iron ore shipments reached 5.4 million tons in May, up 8.4% from the same period last year and 4.7% above the five-year average for the month, indicating signs of strengthening demand ahead of summer.

In the first five months of 2026, iron ore trade has not yet fully recovered from the slowdown at the start of the year. Year-to-date total shipments stood at 12.2 million tons, up 4.1% from the same period in 2025, but still 6.2% below the five-year average for this period.

The limestone market showed a different trend. In May, shipments from U.S. Great Lakes quarries fell 8.1% year-over-year to 2.7 million tons, 5.4% below the five-year average for the month. In the first five months of the year, the decline in limestone shipments deepened, totaling 3.9 million tons, down 14.9% from the same period in 2025 and 15.7% below the five-year average. This data indicates persistently weak demand for limestone aggregates in the construction and steel manufacturing sectors. The LCA represents U.S.-flag carriers operating on the Great Lakes and tracks monthly commodity shipments on this freshwater system.

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