The Great Lakes stone trade ended on January 7, 2001 when Manitoulin Island loaded the last cargo of the season. Preliminary totals show that U.S. and Canadian Great Lakes ports shipped 38,052,683 net tons during the 2000 navigation season, a decrease of 1 percent compared to 1999.
The decrease is largely the result of the harsh weather in December. As the table below illustrates, loadings at both U.S. and Canadian ports dropped significantly. With its comparatively high moisture content, stone is very susceptible to freezing, hence the decreases reported below.
All totals are considered preliminary and subject to final verification.
December 2000 | December 1999 | Season-To-Date 2000 | Season-To-Date 1999 | |
| U.S. Ports | 1,543,923 | 2,446,973 | 30,941,320 | 31,795,814 |
| Canadian Ports | 500,734 | 759,929 | 7,036,252 | 6,512,370 |
Total | 2,044,657 | 3,206,722 | 37,977,572 | 38,308,184 |
January 2001 | January 2000 | Season-To-Date 2000 | Season-To-Date 1999 | |
| U.S. Ports | 0 | 25,090 | 30,941,320 | 31,820,904 |
| Canadian Ports | 75,111 | 79,968 | 7,111,363 | 6,592,338 |
Total | 75,111 | 105,058 | 38,052,683 | 38,413,242 |