USA: Charleston Remains Top Ten Port, CEO Says

South Carolina Ports Authority container volume rose nearly 7 percent in January compared to same month last year, with 129,562 twenty-foot equivalent units handled by the port in January.

In fiscal year to date results announced at the SCPA’s regular Board meeting today, container volume in Charleston is up 5.5 percent. A total of 942,013 TEUs were handled from July to January, an increase from the 892,487 TEUs moved during the same period last fiscal year.

Since 2010, the SCPA has captured nearly half of all container volume growth in the South Atlantic market through the addition of new customers and cargo from discretionary markets, inland-favorable freight and growth of bulk transload operations.

“Container volume in Charleston has grown consistently year over year since fiscal year 2010,” said Jim Newsome, SCPA president and CEO. “We remain a top ten port, and through our efforts to deepen the harbor and prepare for big ships to call in greater frequency, we are poised to meet the future growth of the industry and remain a leader in our competitive region.”

In addition to growth in the container business, Georgetown is up 12.6 percent fiscal year to date as a result of increased tonnages for bulk mill scale, a recyclable product for steel plants, and bulk cement for the construction industry. Georgetown remains over 8 percent ahead of plan for the period.

The Board voted to approve three terminal maintenance projects in Charleston. The overhead electrical network for refrigerated cargo at North Charleston Terminal will be replaced with an underground service, and the RTG container storage area will receive surface upgrades to increase storage capacity. Wharf substructure maintenance repairs for Columbus Street Terminal were also approved.

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Press Release, February 20, 2014