CHARLESTON, SC — AUGUST 19, 2024 — Highly productive port operations and a strategic location in the thriving Southeast is driving cargo growth at South Carolina Ports.
SC Ports had an 8% uptick in container volumes in July compared to the year prior. The start of peak season and a growing population in the region boosted loaded imports by 6%.
“The South Carolina market is ripe for companies to put new investment in the ground and benefit from direct access to our world-class port system,” SC Ports President and CEO Barbara Melvin said. “We deliver reliable port service, a strong intermodal network and future capacity to support growth.”
SC Ports and our broader maritime community worked together to efficiently move 224,407 TEUs and 124,448 pier containers filled with goods at the Port of Charleston last month. This marked the second highest July ever for SC Ports, second only to the July 2021 record spurred by the pandemic-related import boom.
Both rail-served inland ports continued to have stellar cargo growth, handling a combined 21,013 rail moves in July, which is up 19% from last year.
Inland Port Greer had an all-time record July, moving 17,332 containers on and off trains, a 17% increase year-over-year.
Inland Port Dillon also set a record in July, with 3,681 rail moves, which is up 26% from last year.
SC Ports handled 10,814 vehicles in July, which is down year-over-year as July is typically a slower month for this segment. SC Ports supports global automakers’ supply chains by importing parts and exporting finished vehicles for BMW Manufacturing Co., Mercedes-Benz Vans and Volvo Cars, among others.
“The team at South Carolina Ports works in tandem with many maritime and logistics partners every day to efficiently move goods in support of our customers,” Melvin said. “It takes all of us working together to keep the supply chain fluid for the U.S. East Coast port market.”
About South Carolina Ports
South Carolina Ports owns and operates marine terminals at the Port of Charleston and two rail-served inland ports in Greer and Dillon. As the 8th largest U.S. container port, SC Ports connects port-dependent businesses throughout the Southeast and beyond to global markets. SC Ports proactively invests in infrastructure ahead of demand to provide reliable service, efficient operations, cargo capacity, an expansive rail network and the deepest harbor on the East Coast at 52 feet. SC Ports is a vital economic engine for South Carolina, with port operations supporting 1 in 9 jobs statewide. Learn more: scspa.com.
SC Ports had an 8% uptick in container volumes in July compared to the year prior.
(Photo/Matthew Peacock)
