CHARLESTON, SC – OCT. 28, 2025 – South Carolina Ports President and CEO Micah Mallace detailed his pledge for aggressive growth to a room of 1,100 port customers and stakeholders during his first State of the Port address.
Mallace, who was appointed to lead the port on Oct. 6, thanked his predecessors and elected leaders for laying the groundwork to allow the Port to shift momentum away from long-cycle infrastructure towards strengthening its cargo base and prioritizing opportunities for immediate growth.
“We are exceptionally fortunate to be in a position where our port’s terminals run exceedingly well and our infrastructure offers ample capacity for the foreseeable future,” Mallace said. “With these pieces in place, we enjoy the latitude to focus on growth in the immediate term.”
South Carolina, SC Ports’ strengthen foothold in the Southeast market.
South Carolina’s workforce is growing four times faster than any other coastal Southeastern state, ensuring labor for new and growing businesses, and making the state ripe for new investments.
Companies invested $8.19 billion in new and existing businesses in South Carolina during the last year. Of that, port customers invested more than $786 million into new and expanding manufacturing facilities and distribution centers adding 1,200 jobs and bringing new volume to the Port’s inland and ocean terminals.
“Despite a drop off in corporate decision making this year, the South Carolina team was able to achieve strong economic development wins,” Mallace said.
Ocean carriers also showed a vote of confidence in SC Ports’ capabilities within the Southeast market. The Port of Charleston grew its weekly services to 29 in 2025, including first-in-calls from key markets in Asia and Europe, and expanding coverage of the rapidly growing India market to six weekly services.
SC Ports outpaces the U.S. market and other South Atlantic ports for growth in the Northeast Asia-US trade lane. Post-Covid, the Port of Charleston’s volume has increased by 9% in this trade lane, compared to a decline of 2% at other regional ports.
Despite strength of Southeast market, challenges persist—but are surmountable.
Mallace acknowledged that while SC Ports enjoyed significant accomplishments in 2025, there are still challenges to navigate within the industry and at home. Although inland ports had strong growth, SC Ports saw tempered container volumes and stable growth in its 2025 fiscal year.
“As the three-year freight recession persists, spot rates are down, and volatility becomes the new normal, the port market will continue to have to operate in a challenging environment,” Mallace said. “We see the same challenges as our competitors, but we are not satisfied with 3% year-over-year growth in the container segment. There is work to be done, but there is also opportunity and cause for optimism.”
As the U.S. Southeast is projected to experience the largest population gains in the country by 2050, SC Ports has heavily invested in long-cycle infrastructure. The Port of Charleston enjoys the deepest harbor on the U.S. East Coast, has secured a path to 10 million TEUs at its marine terminals, and has invested to ensure its rail capabilities match the growth occurring in South Carolina and throughout the Southeast.
With the necessary infrastructure in place, Mallace said immediate growth is the critical path forward.
“There will be challenges, but they are surmountable,” Mallace said. “SC Ports was the fastest growing U.S. container port for nearly a decade. We have done this before, and we can achieve it again. Generating growth necessitates a momentum change, and momentum change requires bold initiatives. This is a region where one can engineer above-market growth, and that is exactly what we intend to do.”
Mallace details plan for success, pledges to work with partners to drive impact for South Carolina
As SC Ports shifts momentum towards immediate growth and revenue generation, Mallace laid out the Port’s priorities and plans to deliver non-traditional growth initiatives.
The multi-year effort includes plans to use SC Ports’ real estate to facilitate growth projects for businesses, help to back projects with partners who generate growth, focus on revenue-generating infrastructure, and offer creative solutions and white-glove service to BCOs.
Mallace told shippers that SC Ports’ customer-centered approach extends beyond its terminals.
“We are here to help you solve your issues – whether its cost savings, improved cargo visibility, or tucking away inventory.” Mallace said. “Bring your challenges, hardest supply chains and most demanding freight to SC Ports. We will provide a consultive approach.”
Mallace ended his speech by reminding the room that working together is crucial to being more competitive and growing the port, an accomplishment that achieves benefits all and creates economic opportunities around the state.
“Economic opportunity is created through the business that the community in this room does together,” Mallace said. “The port is intended to be a force of good. The team at the port seeks to serve the many stakeholders, and their families, who depend on us to deliver growth.”
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.