CHARLESTON, SC - June 9, 2017 - Today South Carolina Ports Authority announced the highest May container volume in its history, pushing fiscal year-to-date volumes past the Port's total FY2016 volume with one month still remaining in the 2017 fiscal period.
"The Port is on pace to achieve record volume of nearly 2.1 million twenty foot-equivalent units (TEU) when our current fiscal year ends on June 30," said Jim Newsome, SCPA president and CEO. "This is a tremendous achievement resulting from successful efforts to expand our cargo base, and it is a testament to our dedicated workforce and maritime community's ability to seamlessly handle the biggest cargo ships ever to call our Port."
SCPA moved 182,452 TEUs last month, exceeding the previous record of 181,809 TEUs from May 2015. The Port has moved 1.96 million TEUs since the fiscal year began in July, a 9.4 percent increase over the same period last year.
As measured in pier containers, or boxes handled, SCPA moved a record 103,462 containers across the docks of its two container terminals in May. The Port has handled 1.1 million pier containers fiscal year to date.
Inland Port Greer also achieved record volumes in May, with 47 percent growth in rail moves over May 2016. The facility handled 12,702 rail moves during the month, exceeding its previous volume record of 11,125 moves in March. Fiscal year to date, the facility has handled 108,701 rail lifts.
South Carolina Ports Authority (SCPA), established by the state's General Assembly in 1942, owns and operates public seaport facilities in Charleston, Georgetown and Greer. In 2015 SCPA handled international commerce valued at more than $74 billion while receiving no direct taxpayer subsidy. An economic development engine for the state, Port operations facilitate 187,200 statewide jobs and generate nearly $53 billion annual economic activity. Home to the Southeast's deepest port, SCPA is the industry leader in delivering speed-to-market, seamless processes and flexibility to ensure reliable operations, big ship handling, efficient market reach and environmental responsibility. For more information on SCPA, including career opportunities at all SCPA facilities, please visit www.scspa.com.