Charleston, SC -- South Carolina's seaports handled goods valued at nearly $33 billion in 2000, marking an all-time record and an increase of 10% over the previous year, according to recently
released federal trade data. This translates into $89 million in cargo everyday.
The Charleston Custom District ranked 6th nationwide in the value of waterborne commerce, the U.S. Census Bureau's Trade Data Branch report FT920 noted. Port districts ahead of Charleston
were Los Angeles/Long Beach, New York/New Jersey, Houston/Galveston, Seattle/Tacoma and New Orleans.
Export growth outpaced imports last year for the Charleston district, increasing 11%. Nationwide, the value of waterborne trade increased 17% in 2000.
Since 1994, the value of goods moving by sea through the Charleston district has nearly doubled, increasing 91% from $17 billion to $33 billion. This is the fastest rate of growth among the
nation's top 10 ports and more than double the national growth rate.