CHARLESTON, SC - SC Ports Authority sustained double-digit container volume gains in March, reporting 14.3 percent fiscal year to date growth of twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) over the same period last year.
In March SCPA handled 171,113 TEUs, an increase of 13.7 percent compared to 150,516 TEUs moved during the same month last year. Fiscal year to date, the port has handled nearly 1.4 million TEUs.
As measured in pier containers, or the total number of boxes handled, containerized cargo is up 15 percent fiscal year to date compared to last year. SCPA moved 97,191 boxes in March, bringing year fiscal to date pier container volume to nearly 798,000 boxes.
"March volumes reflect the end of a very strong quarter, and I'm confident the port will handle over 1 million boxes by the end of our fiscal year in June," said SC Ports Authority CEO Jim Newsome. "We're seeing broad-based growth across all sectors, particularly refrigerated cargo and automotive manufacturing. Discretionary cargo volumes are also up, with the growth of retail imports and agricultural exports reflected in a nearly 25 percent increase in rail moves last month."
The Inland Port handled 5,187 rail moves in March, achieving its highest volumes since the facility opening in November 2013. Fiscal year to date, the Inland Port has handled 40,313 rail moves and is 52 percent ahead of planned volumes.
Breakbulk business volume was strong in March, with 111,352 total pier tons handled during the month. Charleston moved 68,163 tons in March, bringing fiscal year to date breakbulk tonnage at the North Charleston, Columbus Street and Union Pier terminals to 594,022 tons. Georgetown handled 43,189 tons in March, and the facility is 6 percent head of planned volumes with 401,778 tons moved fiscal year to date.
Community Tour Program
Last month the port announced a new community tour program to offer participants a first-hand look at operations on three Charleston terminals. The tour includes Union Pier Terminal, a mixed cargo and cruise facility; Columbus Street Terminal, a state-of-the-art breakbulk and rolling cargo facility; and Wando Welch Terminal, the port's busiest container terminal. Tours are free to the public and available on a first-come, first-served basis. Tour registration is available on the port's website, www.scspa.com.
About SC Ports Authority
The South Carolina Ports Authority, established by the state's General Assembly in 1942, owns and operates public seaport facilities in Charleston, Georgetown and Greer, handling international commerce valued at more than $63 billion annually while receiving no direct taxpayer subsidy. An economic development engine for the state, port operations facilitate 260,800 jobs across South Carolina and nearly $45 billion in economic activity each year. For more information, visit www.scspa.com.