January 19, 2001

U.S.-West Africa Trade Via Charleston

The Port of Charleston is one of the nation's busiest commercial seaports for trade between the U.S. and Africa.

  • Charleston is the nation's second largest port for containerized trade with Africa.
  • Charleston moves nearly one-fifth of all trade between the U.S. and Africa.
  • Since 1991, U.S.-Africa trade through the Port of Charleston has quadrupled, growing from 7,000 20-foot equivalent units in 1991 to more than 37,000 TEUs in 2000.
  • The Port of Charleston is the dominant South Atlantic port for U.S. trade with West Africa and is the clear market leader.
  • Over the past year, importers and exporters shipped more than 4,400 TEUs of goods through the Port of Charleston between the U.S. and West Africa.
  • From Norfolk to Miami, 36% of all U.S. trade with West Africa moves through Charleston.
  • Over the past year, the Port of Charleston handled nearly two-thirds of all the frozen meat, poultry and fowl that was exported in containers to West Africa through ports from Norfolk to Miami