June 17, 2004

CHARLESTON PORT VOLUME SHATTERS RECORDS IN MAY

Charleston, SC - Double-digit increases in both exports and imports propelled the Port of Charleston to a new record month in May.

Charleston?s container volume totaled 162,527 TEU (20-foot equivalent units), up 17% from May 2003. This shattered the previous one-month record set in March 2003 by 6,000 TEU.

Loaded export container volume rose 15% from the same month last year to 56,500 TEU (20-foot equivalent units). Loaded import container volume jumped 18% from the same month last year to 72,149 TEU, a new one month record for Charleston.

For the first time ever, Charleston expects to top 1.7 million TEU when the current fiscal year ends June 30. The FY05 financial plan calls for another 6% increase in business.

# # #